Gibraltar Insight™ January 2021

THE ROCK’S LONGEST RUNNING MAGAZINE

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JA NUA RY ISSUE 57

Contents

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34

Community Insight 8

NUNS OF THE ROCK

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SPECIALIST FREEZERS ARRIVE

Business Insight 11 12

42

Features 3

BEAT COVID-19 4.0

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WHERE IN THE WORLD?

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DO NOT WAIT… IT MAY BE TOO LATE!

30 @GBZINSIGHT INSTAGRAM IN 2020 34

THE AFRICAN PENGUIN IS HEADING TOWARDS EXTINCTION

ENHANCED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

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HOW TO MAKE THOSE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS STICK

SISTER CITIES MEETING

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LOVING COUPLES

40 DEAD CITY RADIO

Football Insight 26

LYNX FC

Forces Insight 24

AWARDS & PROMOTIONS

Environmental Insight 30

BOOKS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

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NEW YEAR NEW YOU

Regular Features 16

TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT: PROJECT TITAN

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SPORTS INSIGHT

42

MOTORING INSIGHT: ŠKODA OCTAVIA

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HISTORY: A VICTORIA CROSS HOLDER IN GIBRALTAR

46 ADOPT DON’T SHOP 47

A VET’S INSIGHT: 2021

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THE BASE TRAINING CLUB

49 THE PARENT & CHILD SOCIETY 50 HEALTH: KEEPING YOU ON TRACK

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57

JUST MARRIED ON THE ROCK

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HOROSCOPES 2021

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MAMA LOTTIES RECIPE

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LIGHT & POWER CROSSWORD

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Gibraltar Insight Deputy Editor: Jean King

Gibraltar Insight - the Rock’s longest running magazine.

Accounts & Administration: Rosemary Salah-El-Din

Published by GBZ Media Limited, 5/1 Governors Lane, Gibraltar GX11 1AA.

Creative Director: Ben Lewis Executive Editor: Ross Ford For advertising & general queries, contact: +350 200 40913

Printed by Roca Graphics Limited, 21 Tuckey’s Lane, Gibraltar GX11 1AA

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The names Gibraltar Insight, Bermuda Insight, Mum On The Rock, SYOG, Superyacht Owners’ Guide & GBZ Media are marks of GBZ Media (Overseas) Limited, used under exclusive licence. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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Gibraltar Insight places great importance on the accuracy of the information contained within this publication, but cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Views expressed by contributors and/or correspondents do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Neither Gibraltar Insight nor GBZ Media Limited is responsible for any claims made, or material(s) used, in advertisements.

For permission to copy cuttings for internal or client use, contact NLA - nlamediaaccess.com or +441892 525273.

Photo: Elliott Howe

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COMMUNITY INSIGHT

THE GHA HAS DONATED PACKAGES OF FOOD AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS TO "HELP THE NEEDY AT CHRISTMAS". A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GHA SAID, “DESPITE WORKING HARD DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, ALL OUR STAFF ARE THINKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY”.

NUNS OF THE ROCK December 2020 marked the 175th anniversary of the arrival in Gibraltar of the first Loreto Nuns. They came here expressly to open a school for Gibraltarian girls, and actually ended up opening two. Both immediately attracted a large number of pupils.

The party of five nuns were escorted to Gibraltar by the Catholic bishop, Rt Rev Mgr Henry Hughes. They were Mother Angela Kelly, the Mother Superior, and Sister Vincent Clinch, Sister Seraphia Rorke, Sister Placida Byrne and another sister thought to be Sister Josephine Underhill. The eldest of the nuns was just 28 years old.

Thus began the long association between the Loreto Nuns and Gibraltar.

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COMMUNITY INSIGHT

Cheque Presentations Two cheques have been presented by His Excellency the Governor, Sir David Steel, to two local charities with donations on behalf of the Convent Christmas Fair Appeal 2020.

This event, which every year raises significant sums of money for local charities, did not take place this year because of COVID restrictions, but His Excellency was still keen to present as much as possible to these worthy causes, recognising the challenges that so many have faced in 2020.

A cheque of £750.00 was presented to the Saint Vincent De Paul Society, and received by one of the charity’s volunteers, Mrs Maria Teresa Pitto.

The charity was very active during the COVID lockdown earlier in the

year, distributing food supplies to people who were in self-isolation and unable to leave their homes. The charity is exceptionally busy during the Christmas period, especially in delivering food to those of less able means.

Another cheque of £750.00 was donated to the Care Agency, in order to purchase school uniforms for local children. The cheque was received on their behalf by Ms Eleri Surrey, who sits on the Committee of the Convent Christmas Fair.

THE FREEZERS THAT WILL STORE GIBRALTAR’S SUPPLY OF COVID-19 VACCINES HAVE ARRIVED IN GIBRALTAR. The COVID-19 vaccination programme is expected to begin in the middle of this month.

Each freezer can store up to 60,000 doses of the vaccine at temperatures of up to -82 degrees Celsius.

Minister with responsibility for Health and for Civil Contingencies, Samantha Sacramento said, "The GHA team team guided by the Director of Public Health, in conjunction with the office of the Civil Contingencies Co-ordinator are working extremely hard in devising the vaccination programme. The arrival of the freezers ... is an important step and we are ready to receive the vaccines in early January".

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BUSINESS INSIGHT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOVEREIGN GROUP

THE MUCH-MISSED ROUTE TO AND FROM LONDON LUTON WAS GIVEN A NEW LEASE OF LIFE WHEN WIZZ AIR KICKED OFF THEIR NEW SERVICE. It will operate twice a week on Fridays and Mondays all-year round.

The inaugural flight was welcomed with a water cannon salute provided by the Gibraltar Airport Fire and Rescue Service and passengers were greeted by the Gibraltar Re-enactment Society and the Gibraltar Sea Scouts. Arriving and departing passengers were presented with gifts by a team from the Gibraltar Tourist Board.

Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port the Hon Vijay Daryanani MP said, “I was delighted to welcome a new airline to Gibraltar and extra capacity for the North London market.

Wizz Air UK is expanding quickly and I have no doubt that they

A landmark loan facility has been agreed for Gibraltar, enabled by NatWest International Gibraltar and NatWest UK. The lending facility, which totals £500 million, is split equally between the two lenders and has been put in place to provide the Government of Gibraltar with the maximum amount of flexibility to allocate expenditure in support of the economy during the period of the pandemic and the recovery phase. In addition the funding also provides additional liquidity as the end of the Brexit transition period approaches.

Gordon Paterson, Country Head and Head of Local Banking, NatWest International Gibraltar said, “As part of our purpose as a bank, it is our aim to support not just our customers and colleagues but the local community of which we are a part, and there has been no more pertinent time to demonstrate this. A strong relationship has been built up over a number years with the Government of Gibraltar which provides the confidence to support them in respect to this material undertaking.”

The Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, Chief Minister stated, “It is a pleasure for us to announce that we have entered into our facility agreement with NatWest International Gibraltar, a local bank that continues to thrive in our economy, and NatWest UK, who were brought in by the local team. The NatWest team has worked tirelessly with the Financial Secretary and his team over several months to secure this landmark deal. As we see how mass vaccination in 2021 raises the probability of an imminent recovery, the deal marks the turning of a new leaf as we kick-start our economy and look forward to the new opportunities this may bring.”

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will become long term partners for Gibraltar. I negotiated personally with the airline to attract them to the Rock. Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar is committed to attracting an expansion of air services. I will continue to work hard at this and make sure that we have more airlines operating out of the airport than ever before.”

Owain Jones, Managing Director Wizz Air UK, added, “With the launch of our affordable flights to Gibraltar today, we are offering passengers yet another exciting travel opportunity, this time to the Mediterranean peninsula of Gibraltar. A truly unique destination, Gibraltar offers travellers a fascinating blend of history and culture, spectacular views from the top of The Rock and of course, a chance to see its famous Barbary Macaques. As Gibraltar remains on the travel corridor list, meaning passengers arriving into England from Gibraltar don’t have to self-isolate on return, now is the perfect time to book a trip onboard our young, green and ultra-efficient Airbus aircraft fleet.”

Some new, enhanced, travel restrictions have been enacted in Gibraltar for air travel. These are on top of those announced by the Chief Minister regarding COVID testing.

You will only be allowed to disembark an aircraft in Gibraltar if you are one of the following: 1. Individuals who are registered Gibraltarians, either by birth or naturalisation; 2. Individuals with residence in Gibraltar, upon demonstrating satisfactory proof of residence; 3. Sea farer on transit to a vessel which is berthed at Gibraltar and has immigration pre clearance letter issued by the Borders and Coastguards Agency; 4. Spanish nationals who are in transit to Spain; 5. Individuals travelling to Gibraltar on transit to Spain and who hold lawful residence in Spain, upon demonstrating satisfactory proof of residence; 6. People who are carrying out a work activity in Gibraltar or who are taking up employment in Gibraltar and who provide proof on arrival; 7. Military personnel who have been issued with Travel Orders; 8. Individuals who hold an electronic letter issued by the Borders and Coastguard Agency granting that individual permission to enter Gibraltar.

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FEATURE

BEAT COVID-19 4.0 – NEW MEASURES ANNOUNCED TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has announced a new series of BEAT COVID measures to support local businesses and to help ease the financial burden caused by the pandemic over the coming months. The new measures came into effect on 1st December and will continue until 31st March 2021. In an address to Parliament, the Chief Minister said that these were designed “to protect jobs and our economy as best we can.”

“These measures are timed to assist business through what we hope will be the last period of serious disruption as we turn a new leaf and emerge from the pandemic-induced slump.”

The new scheme, BEAT 4.0 will enhance BEAT 2.0 and BEAT 3.0 and will continue to be paid as a grant which will but it will be increased from 20% to 30%.

The Chief Minister stated that the Gibraltar Government recognises that the longer the pandemic goes on, the harder that trading has become for businesses. The total amount that a business receives will be based on the amount calculated from the first BEAT payments during the first lockdown.

Businesses which were able to participate in previous BEAT schemes will have already received emails to enable them to confirm their participation in BEAT 4.0 and they had until midnight on Friday 18th December to confirm their participation. The first round of BEAT 4.0 payments will have been made to businesses in the week commencing 21st December.

Apart from the December payment, all remaining payments will be made at the end of each relevant calendar month as with previous BEAT payments. The Chief Minis-

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ter also announced that the employee termination threshold will be increased from 30% to 50% for wholesale, retail, hotel, bar and restaurant sectors. These sectors will also benefit from a rates waiver between 1st January and the 31st March, while the rates discount of 25% will continue to apply to all businesses. The additional rates discount and waiver does not apply to supermarkets and pharmacies. The commercial rent discount scheme and the moratorium period for insolvencies have also been extended.

The Chief Minister (CM) added that Gibraltar is going through times of uncertainty and stated that “Christmas hospitality will not be so strong in the industry this year,” adding that there will be fewer tourists coming to eat or shop and that retailers will most likely be less active, despite the local captive audience.

“The long-term, economic consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic are highly uncertain to our community.”

Despite ‘severe pressure’ on the economy, the CM hoped that the ‘mass vaccination’ campaign could help kick-start the fight. “It is by keeping our economy on this life-support system that we can avoid a longer term increase in our welfare spending. We will continue to work together to support our business community in a prudent and responsible manner.”

The CM concluded by saying that: “We have many challenges to navigate, each with their own difficult consequences and we will measure our response appropriately.

Together I am confident that we will all see better times to come.”

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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

PROJECT TITAN

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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT

EVERY COMPANY AT THE EDGE OF INNOVATION AND DESIGN FINDS ITSELF SUBJECT TO RUMOURS OR HEARSAY. When you look at Apple, Inc. it has had an incredible ride at the forefront of consumer and business products. Consigned to near bankruptcy in the mid-1990s, it is dominant in a way that its erstwhile and much missed co-founder Steve Jobs managed to embody.

For many years, Apple was the only company to make and market products where it controlled the entire ecosystem. Software and hardware in perfect harmony. However, even in the realm of its desktop and laptop computers it had come to rely on Intel to provide the chips and this - in turn - dictated the architecture of the devices. For iPhones and iPads it was a lot simpler. Apple provided the "whole widget". For the Mac, GPUs, memory arrays and so on had to be done in a certain way to fit with how Intel chips worked. Power-per-watt is what lead to the migration away from the then groundbreaking PowerPC. This spectre came to haunt Intel when Apple decided to jump to the M1 chipset. It is ruthlessly efficient and we get the sense that this is only the beginning of something very, very big.

So, having sorted out the widget issue, would Apple be so bold to attempt an automobile?

In a word, yes.

Project Titan is the rumoured name given to Apple's autonomous electric vehicle initiative. Since the early 2000s, the company has striven to be more environmentally friendly and to use its wealth and influence to spread this among the wider population. However, cars are made up of thousands - if not hundreds of thousands - of individual components.

Why would Apple become dependent on a multitude of suppliers once again?

This is simple to explain.

The original Apple computers were actually DIY kits. You had to sort the bits and bobs out to make the thing be operational. Through time, the company garnered the best of what was available *at the time* to create what looked like a uniform end-product to consumers.

Take even something as brilliant as the iPod. This was actually a bastardised creation, using many off the shelf components. However, the user experience meant it - at no time - ever felt this way.

Perhaps the "Apple Car" will follow an initially similar path?

Right now, Apple cannot build a motor vehicle itself, with all the will in the world. The Cupertino firm will need to partner with an external expert to make this happen. This could happen in a couple of ways.

Firstly, it could buy someone outright. After all, it has the cash. McLaren is in not the best financial shape, but the design ethos is pretty much a perfect match.

Alternatively, it could form a deep and meaningful partnership with a company like BMW. This could work, but how much of Apple's secret sauce would it be willing to share to get such a partner on board?

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in exactly the same way before bringing everything together and in-house as a result of its incredible success and subsequent wealth.

Is the motor vehicle next? Don't bet against it.

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FEATURE

Where

World?

IN THE

ALTHOUGH WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 2021 AND MANY OF US HAVE PUT OUR TRAVEL PLANS ON HOLD, IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE OPTIMISTIC AND LOOK FORWARD TO A TIME WHEN WE CAN TRAVEL ONCE AGAIN. Of course, the way we travel may also be very different. Socially distant travel will definitely be something that we have to take into consideration, as will travelling responsibly and sustainably. We will be embracing more eco-friendly, carbon-neutral methods of travel and will be sourcing destinations that take responsibility for their impact on the environment.

wildlife amid breath-taking scenery and definitely one to consider if you have always wanted to tick a safari off your bucket list. Have you heard about Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, a unique boutique hotel famous for its resident herd of endangered Rothschild giraffes who often pop their heads in through the restaurant windows to join you for breakfast or afternoon tea?

Travelling by road will be a top trend with ‘super-charged’ road trips becoming popular, and there has already been a rise in sales or rentals of Glampervans, luxury motorhomes, with bookings at camp sites sky high as people look for ways to continue to enjoy holidays without flying abroad.

Japan

For those of us who can’t wait until we can get out and explore the world, here are some top suggestions that you can add to your wish list that we hope will whet your appetite and inspire you to travel in the future.

UK Only a flight away, the UK offers some stunning cities and beautifully scenic rural areas to explore. Social distancing is possible if you book a country cottage rather than a hotel, or even consider ‘glamping’.

Explore the picture postcard towns full of history and charm in areas such as the Cotswolds or Sussex.

The Peak District, at the southern end of the Pennines, is always a popular destination full of wide open spaces that makes it popular with walkers and for hardy hikers the views are worth the climb up some of the highest mountain peaks that tower over the rugged landscape. The area also includes some of Britain’s most impressive stately homes including Chatsworth House.

Ireland is a must-visit destination for 2021. If you haven’t been before there’s a wealth of magical places to see. For a relatively small country, there is plenty do, from sightseeing in Dublin, to visiting the Voya Seaweed Baths in Sligo to the unmissable landmark and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Giant’s Causeway in Antrim.

The Burren EcoTourism Network in County Clare has been named one of the best places to travel to next year by Lonely Planet where it was described as the best in ‘regenerative travel’. One of six national parks in Ireland, The Burren is an area of glaciated limestone which looks like a moonscape and is completely dissimilar to the landscape in the rest of Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher situated along the Atlantic Way, are Ireland’s most visited tourist attraction, and alongside Burren are part of the UNESCO Global Geopark, a special region with outstanding geology

Africa Separated from us by the Strait of Gibraltar, much of the African continent relies on tourism and the coronavirus pandemic saw this sector hit particularly hard.

Kenya is an incredible destination where you can enjoy spectacular

If you have a yearning to follow in Joanna Lumley’s footsteps after watching the television series that featured her travelling around Japan, 2021 may be the just the right time to do so. Japan is reportedly thinking about reopening to international tourists in the spring ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games that were postponed from 2020.

Whether you want to go to the Olympics or not, there are some good deals and great savings to be had as the country tries to revive the tourism industry. The best time to visit Japan is from March to May during the late spring and also in the autumn months from September to November.

South Africa South Africa has been listed as one of the best places to go next year

by Forbes and also came eighth in the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards for the Top 20 countries in the world. Not only does it have some of the best wildlife reserves in Africa but it also has endless miles of coastline, perfect for joining in the whale watching season which runs from June until November.

New Zealand New Zealand, famously known as the setting for the Lord of the Rings fantasy trilogy, is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world and no wonder, with its majestic beauty and unspoiled natural wonders. The North Island is home to the country’s largest city, Auckland, surrounded by bays and islands, it’s known as the ‘City of Sails’.

At its southern tips is the harbour side capital Wellington, home to government.

If you want to experience the best of the South Island’s striking natural landscape, consider taking a ride on the TranzAlpine, a train with large reclining seats and huge panoramic windows that goes between Christchurch and Greymouth in just under 5 hours.

2021 Most of us were unable to travel overseas last year due to travel restrictions constantly changing, meaning that we had to cancel or defer holidays Let’s hope that 2021 will be a brighter year for all of us and we will be able to get back to travelling again. Just a reminder that it is more than likely that some travel restrictions will remain, so keep an eye on what is going on and if in doubt get in touch with a reputable travel agent for assistance.

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Books for Sustainability Sustainability can be fun, engaging and help build confidence in young learners. It promotes the development of capabilities associated with the ‘head’, ‘heart’ and ‘hand’ as children and teenagers learn about key issues that have an impact on people and planet.

Books and resources for sustainability can often inspire as they present real and relevant themes of interest to young minds. There are, however, many books in the market; some informed by educational experts who draw out learning outcomes and others produced by interest groups seeking to promote particular views of the world. To a parent, guardian or educator it can be difficult to choose amongst these resources as they are often packaged in

similar ways with attractive images and themes that appeal to young and old.

Often a good indicator is to find the resources making explicit references to the UN Sustainable Development Goals or the SDGs. These provide a framework for identifying the areas or issues that underpin learning for sustainability. The SDGs address global challenges including: poverty; inequality; climate change; environmental degradation; peace and justice. They seek big changes in the way we live, organise and govern ourselves and involve children and young people in considering alterative futures to the ones we are currently destined for.

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I am often asked if ‘sustainability’ is about the environment.

Environmental issues do feature as part of the SDGs as they have and will continue to have an effect on our health, economic and social wellbeing. However, there is a difference between resources that support learning for sustainability and environmental education. Both provide important learning opportunities, especially for the young, but they are quite different in their intention and approaches. It has been suggested that environmentalism (and environmental education) is a movement against things – for example

preached particular ‘behaviours’ in children and young people were avoided as well as resources that promote alarmist concerns for the future. Our young do need to know that we face significant challenges but we also have a duty to empower them, through learning, with the tools to process, decide and respond in their own way. Otherwise, we have children who act without understanding or who believe that single actions will make a difference.

The resources for this initiative chosen aligned with the priority themes and topics taught in local schools through the national curriculum and encouraged active learning approaches as well as futures, creative and critical thinking – key tenets of Education for Sustainability.

The partnership purchased storybooks, readers, fact-finding texts, and growing food manuals that can bring sustainability topics such as biodiversity, carbon footprints, poverty, privilege, cultural diversity and justice alive in classrooms. Included in the purchases were resources that enable learners to engage practically in growing food in schools, looking after green areas, and making a positive contribution to people in our local community. The books were distributed across schools including Bayside and Westside Schools, Bishop Fitzgerald School, St Anne’s School, St Bernard’s Lower Primary School, St Joseph’s Lower and Upper Primary Schools, the Hebrew Primary School, Governors Meadow School, Notre Dame School, St Paul’s Lower Primary School. Book displays exhibiting these new resources can be found across our schools. The

stopping pollution and other harmful activities. It is mostly concerned with engaging learners in action to improve the environment and challenge their own behaviours. Sustainability, on the other hand, is concerned with change for the longer term and deals with the socio-economic contexts that create environmental issues in the first place. It avoids ‘doom and gloom’ approaches and recognizes that individual actions by themselves cannot change the world. They both approach the same issues but in different ways. If you would like to learn more about the difference do check out: WWF’s ‘Weathercocks and Signposts’ (2008).

Another common misunderstanding, is that sustainability refers to ‘retaining what we have’ or ‘sustaining the current situations’, when in fact sustainability is about change and creating a fairer and safer future. It reframes relationships whether it be between producers and environments; consumers and suppliers; or, young people and decision-makers.

As parents and guardians, it is important that we involve our children and young adults in learning about sustainability: challenging misconceptions; encouraging them to question; and, helping them find their own way through this complex area. Our young people will, in future, need to anticipate, become involved, and in some cases address sustainability issues that we are only just beginning to comprehend.

Gibraltar Cultural Services also participated in the initiative by purchasing books for the John Mackintosh Library.

The Gibraltar College and a handful of schools requested resources to support the development of a food growing area on their grounds. Funds were also generously provided by the Guardian Angel Foundation for these purposes.

If you have young children or adults in your life, do consider borrowing the books from the library or asking your school about these resources. If you are considering a birthday gift for a child or young adult, give some thought to purchasing learning resources that can inspire and challenge our next generation to think about the future in different ways. More information about the initiative can be found at www.futuregenerations.gi.

Recognising these challenges, the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Future Generations partnered with the Guardian Angel Foundation and the Department of Education to support learning for sustainability in local schools and the community. Resources were purchased that avoided treating environmental and conservation issues in isolation of the economic and social considerations that underpin them. Equally, textbooks and reading books were chosen that encouraged children and young people to envision how the world could be rather than how it is and to identify ways in which we can work towards shaping the future. It was important that texts that

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ARMED FORCES INSIGHT

The Royal Gibraltar Regiment motto, ‘Nulli Expungabilis Hosti’, translates as, ‘Conquered by no enemy,’ and rings true for all of Gibraltar in 2020.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic we have been busy as a Regiment training and honing our skills, developing our soldiers and putting ourselves to the test physically and mentally.

Here's to 2021 and better times for everyone on the Rock, home and away, so links can further be cemented with the community through events like HM Queen's Birthday and the Ceremony of the Keys.

AWARDS & PROMOTIONS Members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment paraded in the Buffadero Training complex to conduct a Commanding Officers PT session, involving a 4-mile tactical march in the Upper Rock carrying 15 kgs. The event concluded with the Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Simon Dyson presenting four CO’s Coins and promoting two individuals.

THE RECIPIENTS OF THE COINS WERE: • LCpl Arnold Rogers • Mr El-Carasi • Warrant Officer Class 2 Jeffries-Mor • Private Mercieca THOSE IN RECEIPT OF PROMOTIONS WERE: Sergeant Thomas Nicholls who was promoted to Colour Sergeant, in the new year he starts a new role in the School of Infantry, based in Catterick, North Yorkshire, as part of the training assurance team.

2nd Lieutenant Rhodri Thomas was promoted to Lieutenant and in the new year will be part of the Queen Division Courses Cell which is based in Sennybridge, Powys. He will assume the appointment of Platoon Commander and will be instructing potential junior NCOs from across the division.

At the start of December, SAC Rhodri ‘Rhodders’ Sutton and SAC Yvonne ‘Netty’ Sidaway were deployed to RAF Gibraltar and were pivotal assets to the Movements Team during a busy surge period.

In the 8-day period, they handled 8 aircraft, including a US Navy C130 and assisted with the building of 4671Kgs of outbound resupply freight and 6168Kgs of inbound freight. Showcasing their wide-ranging skill set, they have also facilitated with large passenger moves amounting to 132 passengers.

During SAC Sidaway’s time here she received the news that she had been offered promotion to Corporal.

The Station held a small, socially distanced presentation where the RAF Station Commander, Wing Cdr Nel Doherty, congratulated her and thanked them both for their sterling efforts and invaluable support during a hectic period.

Following the presentation, the Station Commander said, “It is always a pleasure to be able to inform someone of their promotion, and to hand over the precious new 'tapes' (rank insignia). To do this for Nettie today was an additional privilege as it seemed a fitting 'thank you' for the efforts of her and the rest of the team from 4624 (RAuxAF) Sqn in supporting a very busy period of operations from the Airfield over the past few weeks.

We wish her all the best for her future career and hope to welcome her back to the Rock in the near future ... but this time as a Corporal!”

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FOOTBALL INSIGHT

I first started playing football back in 2014 with Lincoln red imps. Throughout my time at Lincoln red imps I learnt a lot not only as a person but as a team captain. After 5 years playing at Lincoln the decision was taken by both the club and team captains to not take out a women’s team for this upcoming season.

I was aware that Albert Parody the owner of Lynx FC had been trying to take out a women’s team for a number of years and that there would not be a league if there were only 2 teams willing to participate.

At that moment I spoke to all the players from Lincoln and asked if they would be willing to stick as a team and move on to lynx. We lost a few players on the way but we managed to bring the majority of players with us such as; Alex Holt, Naomi Victor, Sherilyn Orfila, Poppy Hall, Laura, and Belen.

This year we have signed a number of young players which are improving by day. Most of them had played with the GFA under 16 team but had never actually played in the women’s league. They decided to join us this year as they feel it’s the best way for them to improve as players.

The team are working hard at training and slowly getting used to playing together as a team. I am confident that with a few more games together the team

will be able to have many of our youngsters getting used to playing as a starting 11 in the woman’s league.

As the World Cup has vividly shown, women’s football is growing in popularity and status with increasing participation, professionalisation and media attention across the world. a professional football career for women is hard to sustain in the face of low pay, a lack of contractual support, and commitments away from the pitch.

There is a need for significant change to the way women footballers are supported to play for club and country alike. there are significant hurdles to overcome in order to make football a secure career for women. Women footballers not only face problems around pay, but also a number of challenges around other crucial aspects of their work. These include the lack of contractual stability and agent support, as well the absence of appropriate childcare. All these expose them to insecure working conditions.

My message is for everyone involved in women’s football – be it FIFA, the GFA, and UEFA, is to take women’s football seriously and ensure that more women can enjoy decent, fair work conditions as they pursue their professional football careers.

RTHER FOR FU TION, A M INFOR CT CONTA E S A E PL N O B U THE CL .COM @MAIL LYNXFC 9695.

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WORDS BY JONATHAN COSTA 26

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SPORTS INSIGHT 2020, the year that gave birth to horror child Covid-19, the nightmare virus-spewing pandemic that has claimed millions of lives worldwide and continues to leave a trail of death and desolation in its wake, has been consigned to history, banished to register in the annals of infamy alongside the birthdates of past apocalyptic disasters, the Plague, Spanish flu and both world wars.

But now there is light at the end of this dark tunnel, and no, it’s not an express train thundering towards us but the dawn of a new year, bringing with it the hope that salvation is at hand, Operation Vaccination has begun and normality may be about to resume. There is now the real prospect that the public's love affair with sport will soon be rekindled as iconic stadia throughout the world throw open the doors to welcome back fans so cruelly deprived by lockdown and restricted access of pursuing their passion in the desperate year just gone.

Religion was once described by Karl Marx as ‘the opium of the masses’, well Karl old boy, that may have been true in your day, but today, in the west at least, churchgoing is very much in retreat and has long been overtaken by sport as the favoured drug of the masses, and this year the faithful can feverishly indulge their habit, with the sporting calendar of 2021 unveiling a truly breath-taking array of glittering events across all disciplines, including football, boxing, golf, cricket and the rearranged Olympic Games.

FOOTBALL FOOTBALL sees the start of qualification for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and Gibraltar fresh from their astonishing promotion in the Euro Nations League - a phenomenal achievement by charismatic Julio Cesar Ribas’s “Gibraltarian Warriors" that has largely not received the credit it merited - have been drawn in Group G where they can look forward to home and away ties with Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, Montenegro and old foe Latvia.

Whilst it’s disappointing that the group does not contain any of the home nations – England, Scotland, Wales and either of the Irelands would have been a huge attraction – the Rock can look forward to fun-filled nights when Norway and Netherlands come calling, on March 24th and 30th respectively, the Vikings and the Dutch football fans, believe me, know how to properly party and Ocean Village will definitely rock that week, reawakening warm memories of great nights like the recent visit of the Republic of Ireland in the Euro qualifiers, and on the club side, Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic, the latter expedition entered football folklore as “The Shock of Gibraltar” when Lincoln Red Imps unforgettably derailed the green and white hoops!

Gibraltar is a picture postcard destination, with a world class but sadly underused international airport that through increasing

SPECTACULAR

2021 SPORTS

CALENDAR SET TO LIFT COVID GLOOM participation in football is now really being opened up to the world, and while all of mankind have heard of The Rock, not that many have stopped here until now. Long may the visits of discovery continue and the fervent hope is that come March, with the help of the vaccine, freedom of travel will have been restored, the Covid-19 pandemic will be extinguished and the horror of the past year will begin to fade. Hang fire though on binning the face masks, the adornments have transformed many of my acquaintances at the QuarterDeck Tavern into visions a lot easier on the eye than is the norm!

BOXING HOPES are high that the eagerly awaited contest between the two best heavyweights on the planet, both British, clean-cut Anthony Joshua who hails from Watford and self-styled King of the Gypsies Tyson Fury, the complex Mancunian who constantly courts controversy by publicly endorsing and socialising with notorious Irish and Scottish gangsters.

Eye-watering cash in the region of half a billion pounds have been floated for the clash, with late summer the suggested date, Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 the venue, pandemic permitting.

However, should social distancing still be required, money-no-object Saudi Arabia is on standby and very keen to host the mega event. If Riyadh be the chosen site, it will be interesting to see how the Saudi police cope with the Gypsy King’s army of raucous beer-loving fans.

GOLF THE 43rd Ryder Cup clash between the United States and Team Europe, postponed from last year due to the pandemic, will now take place at Whistling Straits, Haven, Wisconsin on September 24th26th, where the Yanks, still smarting from being walloped 17-1/2 - 10-1/2 by the Europeans in Paris in 2018, will be hoping to avenge that rout and, borrowing the puerile slogan of the unlamented ex- Commander-in-Chief Trump, ‘make America great again’! Sadly, Uncle Sam's boys are favourites in my book to regain the Trophy at what is sure to be a very hostile bear pit atmosphere at Whistling Straits. I do hope I’m proved wrong!

CRICKET ENGLAND, who have dominated this version of the sport for the past couple of years, will fancy their chances of lifting the T20 World Cup due to be played in India, starting 18th October with the final scheduled for 15th November. Captain Eoin Morgan's side have been very impressive recently with series victories over South Africa and Australia and confidence is high that this squad can claim the Cup for the second time, with reigning champions West Indies very much in decline, hosts India can emerge as the main threat to the Poms.

TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES POSTPONED from last year due to the pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games will now take place from 23rd July to 8th August. As a kid growing up, I was fascinated every four years by the Olympics, especially the boxing and athletics, but now some of the lustre has been lost with repeated drug scandals tarnishing the great event.

The highlight for me this time will be the performance of Dina Asher-Smith, the immensely talented and likeable 25-year-old from Orpington, in the ladies sprints. Gold medals await the delightful Dina!

It's all in the hands of boxing promoters now, a breed that inhabit the same integrity-free zone headed by merchant bankers, football agents and, especially, world leaders – the current dodgy trio of Trump, Boris and Putin being prime examples – but whenever or wherever the extravaganza is staged, it ain’t gonna be cheap for boxing fans!

WORDS BY LIAM BEGLAN, SPORTS WRITER GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

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FEATURE

There used to be a time when we would ‘save it for best’, meaning that the set of bone china you were gifted or the bottle of vintage port that you bought for an anniversary would be put away until it was deemed to be an appropriate occasion to bring it out to use or drink.

How many of us don’t invite friends over because we haven’t had time to clean the house or are ashamed of the old faded sofas? The truth is that they will just be happy to spend time with you and aren’t worried about the state of your home. Something as simple as sharing a good cup of tea or a glass of wine with friends can be extra special.

What happened, of course, was that the dinner service was never used and the bottle was never drunk because it was never the right time and before long it was too late to enjoy. We wait and wait until we assume the opportunity to do something has arrived, but as we all know, the longer you wait the less likely it is that the time will be right and then we have regrets.

Travel is another area which many of us put off from doing, thinking that there will come a better time to follow our wanderlust. Another inspirational quote sums this up completely: “The only trip you will regret is the one you don’t take.” Make plans to go to those special places now because life can go by in the blink of an eye, leaving many dreams and plans unfulfilled.

Also realise that if there is a particular place that you have always dreamed of visiting, it may no longer be as easy to do so when you are older, because in a world of political unrest it may not be a place that is open to travellers in the future.

Do we ever learn our lesson? The same principle can apply to anything in our lives… our careers, our hobbies, our passions. Why wait?

You may be in a job that you are good at, but do you love it? As the saying goes: “choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Think about what you really enjoyed doing long before you had to worry about exams or getting onto the career ladder. Get back in touch with those instincts and consider pursuing a new vocation. Take a course at night school, look at an online learning prospectus, or go to pottery classes. It’s never too late.

The same adage can be prescribed to your relationships. Don’t wait to tell someone that you care or love them before it is too late. Tomorrow is never guaranteed and isn’t it nicer to tell someone in person what your feelings are rather than when they are gone.

Celebrate life and those who matter to you every day.

It May be Too Late!

We don’t know what’s around the corner and there are many unexpected things that can unfortunately get thrown our way during our lives.

Wouldn’t you rather use a special item now than find it past its best at the back of a cupboard, or lost or damaged, before you were able to get some joy from it?

Are you worried about wearing that silk shirt in case you get it dirty? Little girls don’t need an excuse to dress up in their tiaras and sparkly dresses, and neither should we. If you wait too long for the right occasion to come along, you could be waiting a long time. Why not bring out that sequined dress, put on those long dangly earrings and strut your stuff, even if it is just for a night out with the girls.

So get out those good plates, drink the Champagne you were given on your birthday, use the crystal wine glasses and even when you don't have guests, put out the guest towels and use that expensive perfume. Embrace the good things in life, break out of the ordinary and make everyday a special day.

“Be happy for this moment.

This moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam

WORDS BY JO WARD 28

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FEATURE

2020 was a different kind of year. Here are some of the photos our expert cameraman, Elliott Howe, took across the 12 months. Follow him on Instagram @elliott.c.howe and us @gbzinsight.

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WORDS BY LEWIS PUGH 34

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FEATURE

Thïs ïs høw wë çåñ såvë thëm.

There's a magical moment of transition when a penguin crosses from land to water. Earth-bound they are slow and cumbersome; as soon as they enter the ocean they become sleek and agile, diving with torpedo precision to forage for life-sustaining fish. That is, assuming there are fish to be had.

Last week I drove out to Stony Point near Hermanus in the Western Cape, to assist SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) with a release of rehabilitated African penguins. As I opened one box and watched its eager occupant waddle toward the water, fat and glossy with good health, I was struck by the difference between him and some of the resident birds.

I heard the despair in SANCCOB marine scientist Lauren Waller's voice as she pointed out birds that likely wouldn't make it through the next few days. I've visited penguin colonies all over the southern hemisphere, but until now, I’ve never seen a starving penguin. It was eerily reminiscent of the malnourished polar bears I’ve seen in the north.

Competing for food Many of these wild penguins were moulting – something penguins do every year. The birds stay ashore for up to 21 days to shed and regrow their protective feathers. Because they can't swim during their moult, they need to eat plenty before they come ashore to make it through their fast. These birds should have been at their fattest, but a good number of them were seriously emaciated, their breastbones pointing through their feathers when they fanned their wings.

The resources in our oceans are not endless, and they are no longer abundant, thanks to the combined threats of global warming, pollution and industrial overfishing. Standing on that rocky shoreline it became clear to me how acutely the African penguin is feeling these changes.

Some of these birds may have swum hundreds of kilometres to find food. Marine researchers from BirdLife South Africa recently discovered pre moulting penguins from Dassen Island turning up in De Hoop nature reserve some 350 kilometres away. Swimming such a long distance around Cape Point is not the best strategy when you're trying to put on weight, but these birds have no choice.

Functionally extinct

3) As long as ships carry oil, there are likely to be oil spills. This is especially the case off South Africa's coast, which is a major sea route and has some of the roughest seas in the world. Therefore we must ensure that all vessels transiting around South Africa are required by law to have a wildlife response plan to mitigate the impact of oil on marine wildlife in the event of a spill.

Sea Blind It’s a little known fact that South Africa is actually more sea than land. Our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) stretches 200 nautical miles from our shores. That gives us 1.5 million km2 of ocean, compared to 1,2 million km2 of land – and yet we fail to recognise or properly protect our ocean resources. It is as if we are sea blind.

Our coast is a prime tourist destination. Visitors come from all over the world to see our magnificent beaches, whales, penguins and sharks, providing a crucial boost to our economy. Yet South Africa has designated less than 15% of its coastline as a protected area – less than half the international recommendation. And less than 1% is classified as “fully protected”.

Repeating history

Functionally extinct means that a population has declined to the point where it is no longer viable, and can no longer produce a new generation.

Hermanus in springtime is idyllic. With the fynbos in bloom, the flowers seem to flow down the slopes of the Hottentots Holland range to meet the sea. It's easy to see why tourists love to come here, particularly during the whale watching season, when the Southern Rights come in close to shore with their calves to breach and tail lob. But we should not forget that this was once the site of an ecocide, when humpback whales and Southern Rights were hunted to the brink of extinction.

When surveys began in the early 1900s there were 3 million African penguins. Since then we have lost 95% of the population, and their numbers continue to drop. In 2000, there were an estimated 53,000. Today, there are just 17,700 breeding pairs.

We pulled back just in time; whaling was banned and whale numbers are recovering. Now the local economy relies almost entirely on its natural wildlife. And yet we seem intent on repeating our folly.

They are now more vulnerable than the white rhino, the polar bear or the giant panda.

We may not be actively hunting the penguin, but by failing to put protective measures in place, we are sealing their fate through inaction.

The science is clear: the African penguin is likely to be functionally extinct on the west coast in less than 15 years, unless we take immediate action.

Oil on water If the situation wasn’t dire enough on the west coast, a new threat has emerged on the east coast, with offshore fuel ship-to-ship bunkering in Algoa Bay, close to the largest remaining African penguin colony at St Croix Island. The inherently risky operation of transferring fuel from one vessel to another at sea has already resulted in two oil spills.

Action plan We are now at the point where every bird counts. Conservation agencies are doing everything they can to protect this iconic species. Three crucial actions from our government could make all the difference to the African penguin's survival: 1) Creating a No-Take Fishing Zone of at least a 20-kilometre radius around penguin colonies and their foraging grounds, so that the penguins are not competing with fishing companies.

2) Shifting offshore bunkering away from penguin colonies. Why take the risk? Why allow ships to transfer oil from one vessel to another in such close proximity to South Africa’s biggest African penguin colony in Algoa Bay?

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Fighting chance Hopelessness and despondency are one of the greatest threats to our wildlife – another reason why we simply cannot afford to lose the African penguin.

This year has been dominated by COVID-19 and the economic crisis. But we must not let this distract us from protecting the environment on which we all depend.

Sadly we will not be able to save every bird. But we can still give this beloved South African species a fighting chance. Each Government can take action, no matter how small. The ripple effect for marine life is immeasurable. Gibraltar is lucky given its size and how nimble its authorities can be. Please help encourage and enable all localities around the world to do their bit … before it’s too late.

Protecting natural habitats, like that of the humble African penguin, is in everyone’s interests.

Don’t leave it too late.

Lewis Pugh is an endurance swimmer, a maritime lawyer, friend of Gibraltar and UN Patron of the Oceans.

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FEATURE

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FEATURE

As the clock struck 12:01 am on New Year’s Day, were you one of the many people who resolved to make changes to their life?

It’s always a good idea to start the New Year on the right foot and no doubt many of us will have made New Year resolutions, but although we are still only in January, how many of us have managed to keep to those resolutions? Did you toss your resolutions away with the Christmas tree, or are you one of those people who think that New Year resolutions are made to be broken?

Regardless that our plans for New Year 2021 may well be different to previous years, and that instead of seeing the New Year in with family and friends at a party it may be more like sitting on the sofa watching a feel-good film, we can still make resolutions – albeit different ones – focusing more on health than wealth.

January is probably the worst time to make resolutions after the stress of the holiday season, when bills are piling up from the excess of spending on presents and food, and the pounds are still piling on after too much Christmas fare. Life is exhausting enough without trying to stick to those rash resolutions you made – right?

Maybe you vowed to lose weight or to quit smoking. Maybe you promised to cut down on your alcohol consumption. These are just some of the most common resolutions that we make, the others being: to exercise more, get organised, learn a new skill or hobby, live life to the fullest, save money and spend less, spend more time with family and friends, or to travel and read more.

QUITTER’S DAY

REBOOT YOURSELF IN 2021 Don’t you just hate those articles that tell you how to transform your life? Well, here are some suggestions that aren’t resolutions but instead are long-term life changing ideas: Take risks: Open yourself up to change and embrace it rather than running away. Say ‘YES’ to something that you may have previously said ‘NO’ to!

Live in the moment: Stop worrying and try not to live in the past.

Practice mindfulness and concentrate on the present. Engage in active listening and use all your senses when talking with someone instead of tuning out and thinking about other things.

Stay in touch with family and friends: Pick up the phone or send an email. Make the first move in a relationship that has foundered.

Take time out for yourself: Banish that guilt and just relax. Go for long walks, indulge yourself with a good book, get those watercolours out and paint a landscape or unwind in a hot bath. Don’t feel guilty about taking care of yourself because in the long run it will benefit your mood and your relationships.

HOW TO MAKE

THOSE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

STICK

Did you know that there is actually an annual Quitter’s Day? The third Sunday in January is the day that you are most likely to quit New Year's resolutions and in 2021 this falls on the 17th. Research has found that over 5.5 million Brits abandoned their 2020 New Year’s Resolutions by the end of Quitter’s Day, despite their best intentions.

How can we salvage those resolutions and make them work in the long-term? Think of them as short-term goals to help you to grow day by day. You’d be badly mistaken to think you can achieve great things in just one month of the year, regardless of your resolve to learn another language or to lose 2 stone in weight!

Make those resolutions as realistic as possible and set yourself challenges that you feel confident you will be able to meet. Take diets for instance. If you’ve put on a lot of weight over the past five years, you’re not going to be able to lose it in five weeks.

What you need is to make sensible, behavioural changes to your diet.

HOW TO GET THOSE RESOLUTIONS BACK ON TRACK Understanding where you failed to keep to your resolutions is the first step to getting back on track. What were the stumbling blocks that you failed to account for when you made them? Maybe you underestimated your work schedule or those family commitments that you knew you had to keep to but which would sabotage your plans. Above all, don’t beat yourself up if you eat one more mince pie. Life’s too short.

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS Strange to say it but we shouldn’t make resolutions on New Year’s Eve. They should be planned well before 31st December for the biggest chance of success.

Make a list of the pros and cons of keeping to your resolutions and refer to it when you need motivation, or buy a new daily planner and fill it in to help you stay on track. Choose specific resolutions that are achievable and that you can realistically turn into a habit without turning your life upside down

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Share your talents and skills with others: Maybe you are artistic or creative, or maybe you are adept at fixing technology. Have you noticed how good it feels when you share your passion or a skill that you perform well? Not only do you feel good, but those on the receiving end will really appreciate you.

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Stand up for yourself – whether that is at work or at home: Communicate clearly and let people know what you're willing to tolerate and not tolerate. Being assertive doesn’t mean that you ignore other people’s feelings, but it does mean that you are not spending your life doing what other people want.

Laugh more: A good dose of hearty laughing relieves stress and anxiety and stimulates endorphins. Sharing a laugh with others is a great way to connect and bond.

BE PERSISTENT Can we really create the person we want to be by repetitive actions and thoughts? It will definitely take willpower, but how long does it take to form a habit? Have you heard of the 21/90 rule?

Some experts say it takes 21 days to build or break a habit and 90 days to make it a lifestyle. It won’t happen overnight, so be patient!

Start small, build on that resolution daily and then keep going.

Make microscopic goals that you’re almost guaranteed to hit.

Very few people have achieved great things through luck. Most resolutions fail because they’re just too broad a goal. If you do lapse, don’t let it become an excuse to give up on your goal. Forgive yourself and start again.

Change just one of your habits that creates the most difference to your life. Write it down on paper, along with your motivations, obstacles, and your strategies for overcoming them. Log your progress. Commit fully in a public way and report your progress to someone else each day. Look for support when you falter. If you fail, figure out what went wrong, plan for it, and try again.

Take responsibility and take charge of your future. Don’t blame everyone and everything around you and always bear in mind what the Greek philosopher Aristotle said:

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

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Loving Couples THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES OF ALL LOVING COUPLES CAN VARY FROM FINANCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL TO EMOTIONAL. However, when a partner is profoundly injured or seriously ill during their relationship, the impact can be immeasurable.

Jacqueline Ross, 33, from Motherwell, Scotland and Martin Tavendale, 31, have been in a relationship for two years.

Private Tavendale was an RLC, 400 troop in Catterick originally from Wishaw.

“The accident happened on 1st December 2018,” Martin explains. “I was based in Catterick and had just been promoted from Private to Lance Corporal. I was getting ready to finish for Christmas leave. I was out celebrating and then 10 days later I woke up in hospital.

“I had tried to make my own way back to camp and had fallen asleep at the side of the road. At four o’clock in the morning, a lorry ran over me, crushing my pelvis and rupturing my internal organs.

“A friend heard the noise and ran over and started first aid, stemming the bleeding. His actions are a significant part of why I am still here today.”

Jacqueline, who lives in Motherwell, was unaware what happened until hours later.

“I was on the train going into the Christmas market in Edinburgh,. Martin’s sister phoned me and she told me that Martin had had an accident. No one knew what had happened to him or if he was okay. I got the next train home and my dad drove me to the hospital, five hours from where we were. I contacted everyone I knew in his troop but no one had any information. I didn’t know if he would be alive when I got there.

We were told to prepare for the worst, that he may not make it through the night. I was just speechless. When I first went in and saw all the tubes, it was very overwhelming. I don’t think you can put into words what it feels like. To see somebody in that position.

It’s true what they say, you don’t expect it to happen to you or anybody you know.”

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Martin was saved by the staff at James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough, and went through hours of gruelling surgeries, was in and out of a coma and spent weeks in intensive care.

“I still struggle to sleep, and I think that is due to moving from hotel to hotel for six months, in different rooms, even at Christmas, while he was in hospital.

“I didn’t really know what was going on,” Martin says, “I thought I’d crashed my car or something. I never actually found out the full story until the police came in one day with my sister.”

Jacqueline and Martin are determined to be together as much as possible, so every month she travels from Scotland to Staffordshire. She stays at Norton House, an accommodation facility run by SSAFA, two miles from where Martin is being rehabilitated.

After multiple surgeries, two comas, and time in intensive care, Martin is still recovering from a broken pelvis, a burst artery, damage to his internal organs and damage to his leg. The couple have both had to come to terms with, knowing he might never walk again, and Jacqueline suffers from anxiety triggered by the accident.

Martin and Jacqueline had been together for just a year when the accident happened. He proposed while he was in hospital.

“I was waking from my second coma, I was tired, sore, and Jacqueline was still sat in the chair next to the bed. I was just thinking when this is over, I want to spend the rest of my life with her, so I asked her if she’d marry me. She thought I was out of it, off my face on medication, and she said ‘ah yes, you’ll forget about that in ten minutes’, but I really meant it.

“We hadn’t been together that long, and if it was too much for her I could completely appreciate that. Its life changing and it’s not initially what she signed up for - but she stayed.

For Jacqueline, the accident has taken a toll on her own mental health too.

“Seeing somebody nearly die twice, shocks you.” Jacqueline says. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Being called to say goodbye because the doctors didn’t think he was going to make it.

“I sat by his side every day for five weeks, but to me he’s still Martin. I don’t see him any differently, so I didn’t plan on going anywhere.

JANUARY 2021

“I think this place is phenomenal” Jacq says, “It’s nice to be around people that are experiencing similar situations to you. People back home don’t fully understand and sympathise with what we’re going through, especially our guardian angel Michelle who manages the house. I spend most of my time with her.

‘When I started coming here, I always used to just go to my room, and I would sit there, but now I talk, cry, hug, drink tea. It all matters. It’s a home from home that has helped me cope with the trauma. It’s a sanctuary.”

For Martin, Norton House has been an essential part of his recovery, as his friends and family stay when they visit him, as well as Jacqueline.

Martin is in a manual wheelchair and can move about more freely and is even taking on a push up challenge to raise money for SSAFA. “Time is the biggest healer and it gets easier; I’ve just got to find new passions and keep pushing on. You only get one shot being here and I’m lucky I still am here. I still have bad nights where I’m in agony but slowly things are improving.”

“I want to give a little something back and say thank you to SSAFA for helping Martin’s family a lot through this” Jacq explains If you would like to help support others like Jacqueline and Martin please donate here: ssafa.org.uk/donate

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FEATURE

FEED A CHILD

Burpee Challenge

Fitness fans Katherine Grant and David Deardon are just two of the many people who joined in the Feed a Child Burpee Challenge led by Pueblo Nuevo fitness coach Jojo Ruby France as part of an initiative from the St. George’s charity in Manilva. The aim is to help feed children along the Costa del Sol by providing a packed lunch for 100 children every day between Manilva and Estepona during 2021.

The challenge involved doing 100 American Burpees a day for the 12 days of Christmas in festive attire, this adds up to 1,200 burpees overall. “So far we have raised €4,500 euros for this great cause, thanks in a large part to the giving nature of the people of Gibraltar,” Katherine stated.

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FEATURE

WORDS BY JOE ADAMBERY 40

JANUARY 2021

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FEATURE It’s time to get your record players and your turntables up to scratch again (pardon the pun). The vinyl record album is back and local Rock band ‘Dead City Radio’ are the first band here to release an album in this format instead of the usual CD or digital downloads. It’s a brave new world and as there haven’t been any local releases by anyone in this fateful year DCR, with support from the Gibraltar Cultural Services have took the initiative to release a vinyl record album in time for Christmas 2020.

Vinyl is the traditional way of capturing studio performances on record and the vinyl sound, although for the purists it is considered the Holy Grail, has not got the ultra clean sound attributes of digital formats, however the gramophone ‘needle in the groove’ sound has more warmth and vintage charm than the ‘hear a pin drop’ clarity of digital recordings. Hence the comeback of the vinyl format and the growing trend in record sales as opposed to CDs. ‘Dead City Radio’ have been around for a few years now and their ‘take no prisoners’ approach to Rock music has seen them featured in various GMFs where they have carved for themselves a niche group of fans who seem to go for their ‘Led Zeppelin’ type of vocals for which front man James Culatto is locally revered. They are more than that. They put in a lot rehearsal time to forge their original material into concert shape songs and have probably spent even more time recording their musical progress with former ‘Taxi’ guitarist Danni Fa who is responsible for having engineered the sound of this album.

Rock music is difficult to capture on recordings as high level signals compete with each other for space in the final mix and there is always a danger that taming down the sound of a lively band can totally ruin their projection on the record. This album cheekily titled ‘Album of the year’ by ‘Dead City Radio’ features 8 tracks, among them two new songs and a reworking of an older song, does not suffer from weak sound. It is a challenge on the aural senses and homespun Rock which is not for the squeamish. Original classics which the band are well known for

I recently asked the band to describe their music and the direction that they are taking and bassist Daniel Ghio was the first to reply.“Hard Rock! Our influences range primarily from all sides of the Rock spectrum and I think it shines through on our songs.

Our direction has always been to compose, gig, record and enjoy ourselves as much as we can. Looking back on 2020 it has been a challenge for everyone and especially people in the arts. No gigs, no plays, no shows etc… It’s frustrating because the live aspect of what we do is very important to us. We love playing live, playing our own song... for us, it’s a means to destress. During the lockdown, many musicians pulled together and started doing loads of live shows and pre-recorded shows for social media with James Culatto covering quite a few songs during the lockdown and beyond with several other musicians.”

The drummer’s seat remains empty-yet to be filled in 2021, have you got any candidates in mind yet?

“We’re currently started working with a new drummer so things are in motion and we’ll hopefully be ready with some new material” was the reply from Daniel, whom I then engaged on how did they come up with the idea of releasing a vinyl record?

Front man James Culatto took up the story...

“We had toyed with the idea a couple of years ago and once we’d secured the funding and had the music ready it was a case of shopping online for the right people to work with. That didn’t take long and it was certainly worth it, however nothing’s set in stone for the future, this time we were able to secure the funding by applying for a cultural grant to assist with the costs and we’re thankful that we were able to ‘tick off’ a goal from our list, but it’s a shame that we haven’t been able to officially launch our album with a party and a performance... but who knows ...maybe in 2021.”

How bands work to come up with original songs varies from band to band and I wanted to know how DCR forge their inspirations into songs...

like ‘Valkyrie’ ‘Goddess’ and ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ are reassuringly there. New songs are ‘Fire’- (track1) and ‘Up in Lights’ (track 3) are an indicator against which to compare their old material with the new. In ideal circumstances we would get to see them perform this at a record launch gig but alas this is not possible for now. However take it from me this is a worthy album to add to your Rock collection.

“Usually collectively at rehearsals” said Daniel, “We start jamming or if one of us comes in with a riff or progression we work on it together. I’m pretty sure James’ iPhone is filled with hundreds of ideas that we record as we go along. Some make it into songs others get abandoned and then resurrected along the line. James is quite good at having vocal melodies or even lyrics ready on the spot which he then works on at home.”

The band is made up of James Culatto - vocals, Robin Batchelor- guitar, Daniel Ghio - bass and Michael Gomez - Drums.

Nicholas Anson is credited with drums on the two new songs (tracks 1 and 3) and Richard Camilleri on bass on the reworked ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ (track 8). The album has been produced and mixed by Danni Fa and the cover artwork is by Kane Matto.

The album retails at £20 because production costs are higher for vinyl but it’s a fair price to pay to bring back gramophone music into your collection. You can still get yours now and support local culture.

My parting question was whether they were already making plans for next year and what goals might they have set for themselves...Daniel replies: “I guess we all just want to start playing gigs again. I think it’s safe to say most artists miss that the most. We have a good amount of original material now and we’re already working on new ideas but we can create and create however nothing matches the rush of performing live in front of people. Hopefully, once things ease up, we can start looking at booking gigs at home and in Spain… but for now, we’ll continue to work behind closed doors in our band room”...

One of the first bands that you might wish to check out this year as soon as live music in venues is allowed again because they have a commanding presence and a strong musical statement to make as well.

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MOTORING INSIGHT

WORDS BY MARTIN WARD 42

JANUARY 2021

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MOTORING INSIGHT

At the Premiere they did tell us what a great car the new Octavia was, and now I can confirm... they were right...

It was in November 2019 that I went to the World Premiere of the all-new Skoda Octavia at the National Gallery in Prague.

Many distinguished guests were there including the Czech Prime Minister. Providing the music was the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, which was brilliant, a real treat and an honour to be there. Skoda told us back then, what a great car the new Octavia is.

Skoda have now got a very attractive hatch, and estate in the new Octavia with some very clever and bold lines, that are pressed and engineered to perfection, and have a nice crisp look to them. The styling makes it look almost “Coupe-like” with its sloping rear design. But some cars that have similar sloping lines can lose a bit of rear headroom, but not the Octavia, still plenty for the tallest of rear seat passenger.

Over a year later and I got one as a test car for a week from the Press Office at Skoda UK. The car that I had was a SE L First Edition powered by a 2.0-litre TDI that produces 150ps and goes from 0-62mph (0-100kph) in 8.7 seconds, and a top speed of 141mph, where permitted, which is virtually nowhere at all. It has Volkswagen Group silky smooth 7-Speed DSG automatic gearbox.

The Octavia has always been in the “C-Sector” part of the market to compete with the likes of the Ford Focus, VW Golf and Vauxhall/Opel Astra. But the size of the Octavia is much larger than its main competitors, it really is a big car. The interior is huge, with so much leg and headroom, and the boot is probably larger than cars in the next sector up in size, such as Ford Mondeo and VW Passat. But Skoda have always made “oversized” cars for as long as I remember, and this fact has certainly helped them improve sales year after year.

There was a specification sheet in the car, listing all the standard equipment on this First Edition model, and was it long, just about filled a whole sheet of A4 paper. It had, to name but a few: 17- inch alloy wheels, Adaptive Cruise Control with follow to stop, satellite navigation with

10-inch touchscreen, LED lights front and rear, heated front seats, microsuede upholstery, and much much more.

The Octavia name has been around since 1959, as long as the MINI name, and has grown in popularity over the past 60 years. At the Premiere, Skoda had on display a couple of the original models, which did attract just as much interest and attention as the new one we had gone to see.

The new Octavia is really all-new, hardly any bits-and- pieces used from the previous car, and this does show in the way it looks and drives.

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During the week I had the car, and used it quite a lot on a variety of different

routes and roads, and over the course of the seven-days it achieved on average 61mpg (3.856 L/100km) so a great result for a large car, not only for fuel consumption but for emissions too.

The Octavia is such a nice car to drive, comfortable, good handling dynamics and really good fuel consumption.

UK list price for this vehicle was £28,460 OTR.

MAY 2020

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FEATURE

A

VICTORIA

CROSS HOLDER IN GIBRALTAR

44

JANUARY 2021

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FEATURE

A RECENT REDISCOVERY HAS BEEN MADE OF THE GRAVE BELONGING TO THOMAS HENRY KAVANAGH VC. WHO IS BURIED IN NORTH FRONT CEMETERY. THE STORY SURFACED WHEN DAVID EVESON, OUR CHAIRMAN, FOUND THE HEADSTONE DURING A VISIT THERE AFTER BEING HANDED THE INFORMATION BY AN EX ROYAL ENGINEER GEORGE COLEING.. HE FOUND THE GRAVE IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR AND THOUGHT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO PUT IT IN ORDER. THIS OF COURSE LED TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT HE WAS DOING IN GIBRALTAR. INEVITABLY THE FIRST PLACE TO ASK WAS OUR FONT OF ALL KNOWLEDGE, LORNA SWIFT OF THE GARRISON LIBRARY WHO IN TRUE FORM GAVE US A FILE WHICH HAD BEEN PREPARED IN 1987 AND HELD IN THE LIBRARY. The following account is a compilation of that information and some obtained from the internet.

The town was recaptured by Campbell in March with the aid of Ghurkas supplied by the king of Nepal.

Kavanagh, was of course, Irish, born in Mullinger, County Westmeath on the 15th of July 1821. Following the completion of his education in his home country, he joined the Indian Civil Service around 1849 where he joined Sir Henry Lawrence, the Chief Commissioner of Oudh in the Punjab and became a member of its Commission. He married Agnes Courtney in Cownpore where she stayed while he and Sir Lawrence went to Lucknow. Later she decided to follow her husband. In June 1857 in the Indian Mutiny reached the town and the Residency in that city was besieged. The family was trapped with four of their children. The youngest, Cecil died and his mother was injured by a shell.

In 1858 the British East India Company was dissolved and the British Government took over the reigns of Government.

On the 6th of July 1859, Kavanagh was awarded the Victoria Cross. This award was instituted by Queen Victoria in June 1857. Kavanagh is one of only five civilians ever to be awarded this prestigious medal.

He later became a Deputy District Commissioner.

He returned to England but at the end of October 1882, sailed on board the SS Khedive for Bombay.

The ship arrived in Gibraltar on the 3rd of November but Kavanagh was taken seriously ill and was put ashore and taken to the Station Hospital where he was put in the hands of the Surgeon General Smith, CB at the request of the Governor.

Sir Lawrence with 1500 troops, half of them loyal Bengal Sepoys, fortified the area and stockpiled food and supplies. The first attack on the residence came on July the 4th 1857. Sir Lawrence was killed soon after and his place taken by Colonel John Inglis of the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot.

His illness took a turn for the worse and died on November 13th. A service was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity at 3.30pm the same day, conducted by the Archdeacon Govett. His body was then carried to his final resting place accompanied by 200 military personnel from the 1st Battalion Loyal Lancashire North Regiment and members of all the other services including Major General C Adams CB. Six Majors from each of the RA, RE and Infantry Regiments formed the pall bearers. Lady Napier of Magdala and Kavanagh’s daughter, Mrs Maynard and the Governor attended the Burial.

On the 20th of September, a relief column of two thousand troops under General Outram and Havelock was sent but soon they were outnumbered, surrounded they entrenched themselves near the Residence. Having brought no food, they were dependant on they residency, who themselves were short.

By November the situation had become extremely critical and could only hold out if resupplied from Cownpore. They were down to a few days’ supplies and getting desperate when Sir Colin Campbell, set out with troops to fight his way to the Residency. At this point Kavanagh volunteered to disguise himself as an Indian and find a way though the mutineers in order to guide these troops to the Residency.

With great bravery and without the knowledge of his wife, accompanied by a Brahmin servant, on the 9th of November they managed to get through the road blocks and entered the British lines. The success of his arrival was semaphored from the Alambagh, in the suburbs of Lucknow at which time his wife was told of his exploits.

He was able to lead the troops back to the residency by the 16th. The troops were able to control the situation long enough for the British to withdraw and on the 18th. (or 22nd ) of November the British flag was taken down and the town given over to the mutineers.

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In the records of the King’s Chapel, James Kavanagh is recorded as Commissioner of Oudh, but with the rank of Major. There is no record of his ever been in the military but this was probably an honourable rank. His grandson, Major A B M Kavanagh, served in Gibraltar in the 1st Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment between 1953 and 1955.

It is understood that the war Graves Commission provided a new headstone in the 1980’s but since then the site has again deteriorated.

The Gibraltar Heritage Trust is now looking to repair the grave again.

A local expert in headstone restoration has been engaged to repair the damage which has been kindly sponsored by Isola Brothers.

Article supplied by History Society Gibraltar / This story was first written for the Gibraltar Chronicle in 2010 Email: historysocietygibraltar@hotmail.com

MAY 2020

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ADOPT

DON'T

SHOP

Spanish Dogs

Spanish Stray Dogs UK

LUNA

Luna is a French Bulldog cross, she is really struggling with being in a cage most of the day. She needs an experienced family without small children or other dogs where she can be the center of attention She loves being stroked and craves affection.

More info: www.spanishstraydogs.org.uk

Spanish Dogs

KENAI

Kenai is 3-4 years old and an extremely loving dog who enjoys being with people and other dogs. He is looking for a home where he can really relax and blossom and become part of a loving family. More info: www.ainf.gi

Spanish Stray Dogs UK

CONAN

Conan is a gorgeous 2-3 years old boy who just wants to find a good family to take care of him and have fun with him. He is playful, like a big puppy and loves hugs and attention and lots of treats!

More info: www.ainf.gi

46

HELLO

Helio is approx 2 years old. He was found abandoned in the streets. He loves people and cuddles!!. Helio lives in a pen with his good friend Fafy, who has just been reserved leaving Helio alone.

More info: www.spanishstraydogs.org.uk

JANUARY 2021

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A VET'S INSIGHT FEATURE

2020 HAS BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR PETS BUT WILL 2021 BE ONE TOO? Our lives have been totally disrupted and put on hold over the last year with COVID, with Brexit looming and an incompetent self serving Tory Government it has been pretty much an annus horribilis.

However it has been an excellent year for our pets!! Pets have never had us at home for such extended periods of time; families have been able to spend quality time for their pets. From a veterinary point of view, we have been able to pick up clinical disease earlier as clients have noticed problems at a more seminal moment.

More people have taken on homeless dogs, in some cases fostered but in most cases as a ‘forever home’. This is great as there will always be pets out there that will need a home.

As we move into 2021 and as the population is vaccinated against Covid things will slowly go back to normal .( please don’t be sucked into the conspiracy theories about vaccinations , when they come get vaccinated asap) With that people will go back to their normal work ,recreational and holiday patterns will return to normal , sooner than later people are forecasting in my opinion. This will bring problems at home with our pets!!

My main worry is the separation anxiety that I am sure will become apparent in our pets as soon as the normality returns. Our dogs and cats have been used to having us around the house for extended periods and many will become stressed and disorientated when suddenly they are left ‘abandoned’ at home.

Separation anxiety can be manifested in many ways: •

Destructive behaviour when left alone

•

Aggressiveness , especially with other pets

•

Urinating and defaecating in house or not using litter tray

•

Howling and barking when left alone

•

Become excessively attached when you return home after a period away

•

Eating disorders, can lead to excess or reduced eating . Coprophagia in some cases .

•

Panting , trembling and pacing

What owners need to do is try and mitigate and any problems that may arise over the next few months by starting to take action now.

Primarily start getting the animal to spend periods of time on its own.

Don’t let your pet follow you around the house 24/7, keep them in rooms separate to yourself even when you are in the house, get them used to time alone. Maybe put on a radio or telly on for them so that there is some distraction.

Don’t let your pets sleep in the same bedroom as yourselves; make sure there is a separation between yourselves and them.

Don’t submit to their requests; for example, don’t feed them when they ask. Feed them on your terms.

Change dog walking patterns to ones more in tune to what will happen when life returns to normal. This will also help with toilet issues in the future.

The other major problem that I see arising over the next year and beyond will be unwanted pets that have been taken on over lockdown.

This genuinely worries me and I see this being a future issue.

When life returns to normal people will start to travel again, weekends away, more nights out etc etc . These pets that have been a lifeline to a lot of people and have kept many individuals sane and accompanied over Covid will suddenly become an encumbrance and a cost, often cases will be closely linked to separation anxiety issues. I have seen this many times over my career , I have heard all the excuses known to mankind, sudden ‘allergies’ develop, suddenly house gets too small, suddenly the dogs doesn’t get on with the owner , etc , the list is endless. I just hope that we don’t see too many of these cases over the next year.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a much better year than the one we are coming out off, wishing you all health and happiness , and TAKE THE COVID VACCINE so that life returns to a semblance of normality the soonest possible.

WORDS BY MARK PIZARRO GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

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FEATURE 15 YEARS AGO IT ALL STARTED. WITH BELIEF, PASSION AND HARD WORK THE SMALL TEAM (GIBFIT) STUCK TOGETHER AND NEVER PARTED. IT WAS THE START OF SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT WOULD INSPIRE, MOTIVATE AND GIVE HOPE TO OTHERS. WE COLLABORATED WITH ALL LOCAL CHARITY EVENTS, ORGANISED THE VERY FIRST HEALTH & FITNESS EVENTS IN GIBRALTAR, COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THEIR ANNUAL HEALTH & FITNESS AWARENESS DAY. GIBFIT developed even further after Janine's collaboration with TV Spanish top fitness insructors ,Jessica and Jose Exposito with their own successful fitness programmes Batuka and XT29. During all these years Janine also started to work with other programmes such us Kangoo Jumps, Batuka, Zumba, TRX, Gymstick, Step Aerodance, Aerodance, Functional Training, Personal Training, Piloxing and other programmes providing Healthy and Educational Fitness Classes to the local community Janine took a further step in her Fitness career by becoming an official Piloxing Master Trainer for Gibraltar and Spain with the Global well-knowm Piloxing Academny based in LA, travelling abroad certifying pupils. She also started to travel and represent Gibraltar at International Fitness Conventions becoming an International Fitness Presenter.

As a result of all the experiences she established a close link and connection with a very exclusive Network of International Fitness Professionals across the world and for the past 6 years has worked in collaboration with Top Insternatioanl Fitness Presenters, Fernando Miranda (IdeasFitness Spain), Marijia Andrijasevic (Croatia, Adidas Ambas-

OUR PHILOSOPHY That The Most Vauable Possesion You Have Is Your Body, Health And Well-Being.

That Educating And Empowering Others Is A Life Long Experience Which Is Our Duty To Provide.

Of The Importance Of Moral Values, Respect, Acceptance And Understanding Others.

Of Understanding Why You Do What You Do...

Of Enjoyment, Fun And Social Interaction.

Of A Non-Prejudgemental Training Environment.

Of A Healthy, Clean And Sustainable Approach Towards Training.

THE BASE TRAINING CLUB The Base Training Club will provide you with all the challenges necessary to help you improve and develop yourself, adapt / change progressively your lifestyle in a Holistic approach. The professional and friendly environment will enable you to experience structured and organised training sessions/programmes always led by qualified instructors that will ensure a natural, safe and healthy progression of all your Fitness components/indicators.

You will be able to access our on-line pre workout/class booking system which will allow you to plan your weekly training schedule based on your individual needs.

sador) and Panos Balatsinos (Base Training Head Office, Greece) in a variety of Fitness and Education Events, sharing a common interest, passion and belief in Fitness and Health related exercise. Three years ago she was offered the opportunity to open her own gym, The Base Training Club, in Gibraltar. A unique place with character and personality focusing on the fundamentals of fitness training and health related exercise delivered by a team of passionate professionals offering a caring and personal service within a family atmosphere.

Members common phrase is, at the Base they genuinely care about you. Offering a very affordable and accessible product providing two forms of membership, 1. attendance/daily live stream access/Online Website access, 2. daily live stream access/Online Website access.

The Base Training Club has worked hard this past year during these hard times to adapt following new rules and still provide its members and the community with an opportunity to continue maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. They collaborated with GBC and other entities in the recording of the Fitness Zone programme during lockdown which helped our community in maintaining a healthy mind and body. All their online recordings where also made accessible to school students.

BEST FUN AND ENERGIZING GROUP WORKOUTS AT THE BASE! We believe you don’t need any fancy equipment to get in shape.

Group fitness classes can be a magic bullet for those who struggle with sticking to an exercise plan. It is painfully easy to loose your motivation when you don’t have a team to hold you to your goals.

WE ARE DEDICATED TO YOU The Base Training Club offers a variety of unique accredited fitness programs and a totally different philosophy with regards to fitness training to benefit your body and mind.

Our classes are designed to provide workouts based on the latest fitness trends and research.

• • • • • • • • • •

Improved cardio-respiratory health Reduced body fat Increased muscular endurance Increased metabolic rate Increased bone density Reduced blood pressure Increased flexibility Reduced stress Improved self-esteem Improved mind/body connection

Our group fitness classes are also an effective way to reach health goals because they take the stress out of figuring out what to do in the gym. Plenty of people who want to get in shape don’t because they are intimidated at the idea of going into a gym and lifting weights or confused about what they should be doing.

Experience a wide variety of class formats at The Base Training Club to stay motivated as you pursue your fitness goals. Our elite instructors provide modifications and progressions for all fitness levels so our classes are suitable for everyone!

PERSONAL TRAINING / SMALL GROUP TRAINING We also specialize in Personal Training or Small Group Training were we focus more on the individual needs and provide you with detailed analysis of your physical condition and training requirements to reach you personal goals. www.thebasetrianingclub.com info@thebasetrainingclub.com gibfit@hotmail.com T: 00350 200 46990 M: 00350 54012385

WORDS BY JANINE PEREIRA 48

JANUARY 2021

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PACS

So it is that time of year again when we look at a new year beginning and sit down and plan our New Year's resolutions. These could include healthier regimes or new jobs or hobbies. However, when you are a parent, especially of young children how can you incorporate some of these resolutions into your daily life.

NEW YOU

As the Parent and Child Society’s name indicates the Parent comes first. However, we all know as parents that we put our children first and ourselves second, this is not always the best way round and when making resolutions we need to consider ourselves first maybe.

Every year thousands of people make similar resolutions, more exercise, eating better and healthier, getting more fulfilment from a new job or a new hobby. This articles aim is to show you that being a parent will not stop you from meeting these resolutions but might help you along the way and improving life with your little ones.

kids normally will not eat, they are more open to if they have been involved in the making. Also maybe set up a challenge with your child to eat their 5 a day and you will naturally find your intake will increase too. At PACS some of our healthy foods to make with kids include veg packed pasta bakes and fruit smoothies. Both recipes encourage healthy eating and kids get to improve their fine motor skills by chopping up the ingredients.

Maybe your new year resolution is to get a new job or return to work after having your children. You might be experiencing guilt about leaving your child behind. But its important to remember that what is right for you can also be right for your family. If you are feeling that you need the new challenge at work then take it because staying as you are may actually have a negative impact on you, which will affect your relationships at home too. Just find the right balance for you and your child.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR A PARENT?

So, you have decided to do more exercise but with a little one at home when will you find the time? Yes, you could wake up earlier and do it before your child raises or maybe in the evenings, but why not consider making exercise part of your day with your child instead. If your child is little why not strap them into their pram and take a walk or run together not only are you getting your exercise, but your child gets to enjoy the environment around them. If you have an active toddler head to the play park and instead of just watching your child on the play equipment, play with them, join in on the monkey bars or on the climbing frame.

A lot of the time when you become a parent you start to forget about yourself, but this could be the perfect time to take back some “me” time and start a new hobby or rekindle the love for an old one. Find one that you can fit around your home and work life, maybe an evening course or class, the Gibraltar College offers a range from languages to cooking.

Remember, to take time for yourself to do something you enjoy.

Like with all New Year's resolutions do not go too hard and fast, take little steps to achieve your longer lasting resolutions.

Here at PACS we wish you the best of luck for your new year.

As well as doing more exercise, lots of people have the New Year's resolution to eat healthier. As parents you are also always aware of the importance of feeding your children the right types of food, so these are two great resolutions to join. Why not try cooking with your children? You could try out healthy recipes together. Try making chicken fajitas packed with lean meat (or tofu), fresh peppers and onions topped with salad. At PACS we have found that foods

WORDS BY THE PARENT AND CHILD SOCIETY GIBRALTAR (PACS) GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM

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FEATURE& HEALTH WELLBEING

KEEPING YOU ON TRACK It’s a new year and with the focus on fitness and weight loss we look at ways to keep to achievable goals rather than on a quick-fit approach.

The best way to lose weight and keep it off is by implementing long-term lifestyle changes. There are several reasons why you may be overweight including lack of exercise, eating too many calories and processed foods, as well as suffering from insomnia. Age also plays a part and although it is often said that as we get older our metabolisms slow down and cause us to gain weight, this is a myth.

The fact is that as we get older we tend to be less active and eat more, and that’s why we put on weight.

If you have been trying to lose weight but can’t seem to make it shift, it could be a good idea to see if you can boost your metabolism, but do you know what your ‘metabolism’ is? It is the overall term given to the huge range of chemical processes which take place in all living cells in the body and a key element of the metabolism is to convert the food we eat into energy with which to fuel these chemical processes. Some people’s bodies burn more energy than others. This is called the metabolic rate. The higher your metabolic rate, the more calories you burn at rest.

Nutrition and exercise are equally important when trying to lose weight. A nutritious diet including a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat, fibre, fluids, vitamins and minerals is important for everyone and can help you to achieve the body you want.

If you’re an athlete, bodybuilder or sportsperson, it’s even more important to fuel your body the right way. In sports and fitness, what you consume – and when you consume it – affects your performance. Protein is important in building muscle mass and in repairing injured tissue.

Adding more protein to your nutrition plan is one simple step that can help you lose weight by keeping you full, maintaining lean muscle, and stoking your metabolism so you burn more fat. When you are dieting, it can be so easy to slip off the wagon and turn to convenience or fast foods like biscuits, crisps and chocolate, so it is worthwhile keeping a stock

There are certain foods that you can eat to boost metabolism, the best of these being: nuts, chilli peppers, mustard, seaweed, caffeine (tea and coffee), coconut oil, fish and whole grains. There are also three things that slow metabolism and these are: artificial sweeteners, fried foods, and refined carbohydrates including white pasta, white bread and white potatoes.

of healthy snacks nearby instead, such as popcorn, fruit juice, fruit, and oat or rice cakes. It is also a good idea to have some protein shakes to hand and to take one at the same time each day to help you keep on track with your weight loss.

Protein supplements come in various forms and now that veganism has become increasingly popular over the years, Holland & Barrett has a range of vegan products to help you increase your protein. Try Precision Engineered’s Plant Protein, a dairy free blend of pea protein isolate and rice protein to support your daily protein intake or USN 100% Plant Protein, a great tasting blend of pea, rice and hemp protein.

USN Diet Fuel is ideal for supporting weight loss goals and is the perfect meal replacement that comes in a range of delicious flavours. Diet Fuel is high in protein which helps you to feel more satiated, and also provides a vitamin complex to support your health and wellbeing.

If you are looking for a meal replacement shake or a snack between meals to support your weight loss goals, try USN Vegan Diet Fuel, a blend of pea, soya and rice protein.

ADVISORY INFORMATION: Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional and always read the label before use.

REMEMBER, THE BEST WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT FOR MOST PEOPLE IS TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES, SO TRY TO GET MOVING, EXERCISE MORE AND EAT MINDFULLY.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

ALCOHOL IS LINKED WITH MORE THAN 60 HEALTH CONDITIONS, INCLUDING LIVER DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DEPRESSION, SEVEN TYPES OF CANCER; IT IS ALSO THE BIGGEST RISK FACTOR FOR DEATH, ILL-HEALTH AND DISABILITY. Current medical recommendations are to drink no more than 14 units per week, spread over three or more days, and with at least two days off. However, many people do not follow the guidance and a lot more alcohol is consumed.

Dry January is an annual movement run by the charity Alcohol Change UK through which millions of people give up alcohol for the month of January. The idea for the campaign was born in 2012 when several people working for the charity began to think about their drinking habits and the benefits of having a break from drinking, especially after Christmas.

Reasons to try dry A month alcohol-free has a lot of benefits: research published in the British Medical Journal in 2018 found that a month off alcohol lowers blood pressure, reduces diabetes risk, lowers cholesterol, helps with weight loss and reduces levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood.

Being alcohol-free for 31 days shows us that we do not need alcohol to have fun, to relax, to socialise. You can take a month off alcohol anytime and there is support available, but why not join a global community to make a change this January?

The first Dry January started in 2013 with 4,000 people.

A debate about the usefulness of giving up alcohol for a month ensued and alcohol behaviour-change expert Dr Richard de Visser from the University of Sussex volunteered to survey those taking part in Dry January to study the effects.

• Download the free Try Dry app to track your units, calories and money saved, whilst gaining some added motivation every day.

Six months after the campaign finished, seven out of ten people were found to have continued to drink less riskily than before.

Dry January can change lives! Get online to find all the information, hint's n' tips and get the app.

Over the next few years, more and more people took up ‘Dry January’ and in 2019 the new app Try Dry was launched.

• Check out the Dry January blog for lots of tips and tricks for a dry month.

ary21 https://tinyurl.com/DryJanu

Thinking about your drinking?

Many people feel like they are drinking a bit too much, or too often, or could just do with some time off. A month off alcohol is the perfect way to reset your relationship with alcohol. Research shows that it only takes three weeks to break a habit, so this could be your route to happier, healthier drinking long-term.

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Cosmetic Surgery with Complete Peace of Mind

Dr. Marco Vricella

Book a FREE Consultation

FREE Aftercare (+34) 671 639 353 in English (+34) 662 936 058 en Español

info@ariamedicalgroup.com College Clinic, Regal House, Gibraltar

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FEATURE

New year

new you WALKING IN THE LIGHT. As we wave goodbye to 2020 and to a year unlike any the world has ever known before, let us walk forward wiser and more patient, stronger and more able to stand in our power, Our Invisible Power.

Throughout 2020 I have addressed various aspects of this Power and, with hindsight, I can see that I was guided to do so in preparation for the year we are now in … moving onto a higher dimension. Leaving behind the emphasis on the material aspects of life and more fully embracing our spiritual energy.

So, looking back to the past year …. what have you learned? In a world turned upside down where so much of what we took for granted just fell apart …. what is the most important thing that you learned?

I would not expect you to answer right away. Rather a lot of processing will be needed to really press the right button but I suggest that it is worth the effort as this year of 2021 is going to be even more important in the history of nature and humankind.

I firmly believe that we are witnessing a major transition. I believe that we are transitioning from an era which laid importance and emphasis on the material aspects of our existence. Material acquisition was everything. And I believe that we are all, in fact, spiritual beings having a material experience and so balance is key.

To achieve that balance, we need to identify just how we grew throughout 2020. Because growth is what it is all about no matter how it presents. With so much uncertainty and so much shifting sand beneath our feet, we all had to dig deep and find ways to make sense of a world which was making absolutely no sense at all. And, albeit in different ways, this will continue throughout 2021. It is up to us as spiritual beings to harness Our Invisible Power and to create the world that we want to live in. And that starts within your own heart.

So, ask yourself why? Why has this happened and what is the lesson? I think the global lesson starts within each one of us. We are all pinpoints of light on the one body of consciousness. Each of us unique and the whole body so much greater than the sum of the parts. When we each establish our own personal WHY then that body of consciousness can and will rise to overcome the dark forces and in so doing bring balance back into play.

To establish your WHY just ask yourself … What Hurts You? What hurts you about the last year, for the world and for yourself? Play about with all the answers that come to you until you can pinpoint the one that fits most snugly into your heart where it can be acknowledged and healed. If everyone was to do this exercise then what a truly wonderful world it would be.

pain. Given that we approach life by either moving towards pleasure or away from pain, having a purpose to the pain would move you towards pleasure. Without a purpose you are like a ship cast adrift without a route. You will spend your time avoiding rough seas and rocks with no destination to head for. With a route the rocks and the rough seas will still be there but your purpose will enable you to navigate around them with minimal trouble. Give a man a purpose and he will endure any how!

This year is offering you the biggest opportunity to really make your life matter. As you step into Your Invisible Power and shine Your Light you will draw to you people who are needing guidance, healing and purpose. You can be that person who is connecting from a higher spiritual level and can help others step by step to inch their way forward and step into their own Invisible Power. This is not something you have to schedule or make extra time for, it is a way of being that slips seamlessly into your everyday interactions. You lead by example. You make a commitment to keep yourself in balance Physically, Intellectually (mentally), Emotionally and Spiritually (your Soul) and by so doing you clear your energy field of any negativity and so attract into it the people who are yearning for healing.

As we recover from the upheaval and grow through this period of transition we must be mindful that happiness and good fortune are our birthright. And there is enough to go round. The more we share then the more our good fortune multiplies and the more everyone benefits. There is no such thing as ‘not enough’. There is more than enough. By sharing the qualities of peace, harmony, co-operation, joy, love and higher understanding we reach people on all levels and they sense this. Give thanks for all that you have received already and so be prepared for all the wonders ahead.

Believe in love. Believe in angels. Believe in a higher power and above all believe in yourself. You were created by the Divine Source and cared for by Mother Earth. You are a rare being, one of a kind, you can never be replaced, you are an Angel. Bless you.

Have a wonderful 2021.

Kate Mchardy MA(Hons) PGCE MSPH Spiritual coach, teacher and healer. katemch@gmail.com / Tel: +44 7712889534. Facebook: The University of Light Group / Readings at The University of Light (@ tarotangelspiritreadings).

So, now that you have identified what hurts you, can you give yourself permission to bring a purpose to that hurt – to bring a purpose to the

WORDS BY KATE MCHARDY

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Just Married on the Rock

Mobile: 58897000 Email: nicholas64@gibtelecom.net

Prince Constantin & Princess Kathryn Married 25th November 2020 Photographer Nicky Sanchez

Dane & Elaine Married 3rd October 2020 Photographer Nicky Sanchez

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FEATURE

Horoscopes 2021 ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr 20)

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21)

With your practical nature and no-nonsense attitude, Aries, you find yourself entering the New Year with high hopes and yet feeling a little prickly under the skin. This is simply because you are feeling sensitive following the uncertainties of the last year and your inborn need to feel that you are in control. As the beginning of the year gives way to springtime things will feel rather more secure and you will be able to plan ahead without that nagging feeling that you might be letting someone down. So, lighten up as summer comes around and allow yourself to laugh a little at your worries and troubles. The second half of the year is a good time for you to work on your inner light. Engage in stillness and allow yourself to absorb the higher energies of the Universe. Open your heart to love in all its forms and know that, by doing so, you are having a profound effect on everyone you come into contact with.

This year of 2021 offers great promise and release form the trials and tribulations of the past twelve months. Being the earth creature that you are, Taurus, with a need for stability, the uncertainty and upheaval of this time has affected you deeply. During the first half of this new year, you will find yourself slowly releasing your grip on the familiar and allowing yourself to let go of things which you acknowledge are no longer serving you but holding you back. As springtime comes around, as it will, so will you realise that the seasons of nature reflect the seasons of life and that there are indeed many certainties and things that we can rely on to be there for us in an unchanging way. Welcome the summer months with open arms and an open heart and remember that to honour and respect others you must first honour and respect yourself. By Christmas time you will feel whole again, safer and very much loved.

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FEATURE GEMINI (May 22 - Jun 22)

SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22)

You are the great communicator, Gemini, whether with words, body language or actions. You have the ability to use this skill to hurt or to heal and in many situations your sense of humour and satire are your saving grace. In the aftermath of the global crisis of the last year, you will be called upon to use your skill as a healing tool. Many people are entering 2021 in a state of confusion and bewilderment.

Gemini is the messenger energy who is given the role of soothing and healing wounded souls. During this year of transformation and transition you there will be many changes, for you and for others.

Be aware that there will be trickery around so keep your intuition sharp and fresh and be ready to grow into the amazing purpose that you came on earth to share. Tune into the wisdom of the Universe that is available to you now.

2021 challenges you to be more independent than ever before, Scorpio. This will involve having the courage to step into your invisible power and speak your truth. Up till now you have undervalued your innate powers and your ability to heal and to be a spiritual leader. You are reminded to be more disciplined about your spiritual practice as this is important to your progress and there will be an encounter with someone in the month of July where this will be brought home to you. So, be prepared. Come September you will be in a position to express your firm belief in equality and make sure that everyone feels needed and important. As the year draws to a close look for like - minded others and gather them to you.

Together, you can fulfill your mission more effectively than if you work alone. Shine unconditional love and light and allow others to bask in the healing.

CANCER (Jun 23 - Jul 22) Your generous, loyal and caring nature has been sorely put to the test over the last year, Cancer, but the good news is that it will be welcomed with open arms over the months of 2021. As the early months move into the new life of springtime, you will be able to walk into those arms and touch the hearts of many people. It isn’t that you haven’t been appreciated recently it is simply that people have been so preoccupied and so confused that they haven’t taken onboard what you have had to share. But your actions and your caring will come into its own and by the second half of the year you will be feeling much less frustrated and much clearer on your own way forward. When you feel a little misunderstood around October/November just remember that you carry light and wisdom in your aura and this is not always immediately recognized. Recognise your true self and the rest will follow.

LEO (Jul 23 - Aug 23) Like many people over the last year, your energy has been rather scattered, Leo. However, being Leo, and having extra measures of radiant energy this has left you depleted and even a little down about 2021 may be about to deliver. So, I am here to tell you that this is the year to rein in some of that energy … for the first few months of the year just step back from encouraging and reassuring others and spend some time doing this for yourself. Remember that when you are acting with the best and noblest of intentions (as you have been), you may well be misunderstood. There will always be those who want to put out the bright light of others. Seldom has this been more true than in the last twelve months. As we move into the more relaxed and warmer days of summer remain true to your own purpose and hold your vison like a bright burning flame.

This will carry you on down to Christmas and a whole new you!

VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sep 23) Being a wise soul, Virgo, you will find that this year will bring out the teacher in you and many people will be ready to listen to what you have to share. This will not be like traditional teaching as we know it but more to do with sharing your inner knowledge with people who are ready to learn more about themselves and the world around them. 2021 is a healing year …. And you will be called upon to play your part in that healing. It will take many forms and is an awesome opportunity for you to step into your power and show others that they can do the same. You may find yourself on the beach in the summer months, surrounded by people who simply cannot get enough of what you have to teach and share. And as the year progresses you feel at peace within yourself – like a feeling of having come home. That’s because you have. You have come home to yourself.

LIBRA (Sep 24 - Oct 23) 2021 is set to be a year of transition and change, Libra. Following on from the upheaval of the past twelve months we will move onto the next phase which will be about moving people forward to enlightenment. As a lover of balance, you will find yourself drawn to watch for unexpected things happening and to be a step ahead of others in helping them see things from different perspectives.

As the year progresses through the new life of springtime and on into the warm months of summer, so you will develop your skills and clear your thoughts. You will be making sure that your focus only on the positive and that your intentions are pure. Thus, as the year progresses you will be able to share these skills with others enabling them to navigate obstacles in new and clever ways. As yet another year draws to a close you will be secure in your tribe and respected by all.

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 21) You are more powerful than you know, Sagittarius, and 2021 will present you with plenty of opportunities to grow into that power.

Following on from the recent months of upheaval and uncertainty, this year is going to be a period of healing, personal growth and transformation. The way is forward and looking back will not be in any way helpful. Learn the lessons of the past and choose only the good energy to take forward. You will expand your horizons this year, with travel to somewhere exotic being a distinct possibility around August/September. You will also be called upon to tune in psychically to a relationship that is troubling you in some way and you must listen to your intuition as it will not let you down.

As Christmas comes around again you will feel less than ever like engaging in the material aspects and you will choose to share your love in the spiritual ways which bring you inner peace.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 - Jan 20) As we move ever closer into the 5th dimension, Capricorn, so will your energy soften and you will feel safer to express the feelings held deeply in your heart. As the year embraces the new life of spring, so will you feel yourself and those around you daring to feel excited and joyful at the prospect of a world full of love …. of more soul and less materialism. Caring, devotion and innocent fun will be where you feel that you have most to give and hence feel the greatest reward. You are ruled by Saturn and as that great planet shifted at the last winter solstice, so too did the heavy energy shift from your energy sphere. At last, you can shake off the sense of responsibility which has always been a part of you and as the year comes to a close you can relax and enjoy a lighter and more carefree festive period. Enjoying yourself rather than feeling that you must take care of everyone else first!

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 - Feb 19) As an Aquarian, you have learned patience. You have had to. Those of you born under the sign of Aquarius hold, deep within themselves, a golden wisdom, a divine blueprint, that your soul contracted to share with humanity. But, until now, humanity has not been ready and so you have been patiently waiting. You are instinctively drawn to ley lines and even more so this year, as you are building new spiritual communication systems for the approaching 5th dimensional energy which the world is now entering. You have never felt that you truly fitted into this world – because you didn’t. But your time has now come and as you breathe deeper and deeper into your third eye you will connect with Archangel Raphael who will raise your healing abilities to a very high level and as the year draws to a close you will know that The Universe supports you and that your patience has paid off.

PISCES (Feb 20 - Mar 20) Your mission this year is the spreading of peace, Pisces. In the early part of the year, you will learn how to communicate this more effectively through your energy field. Plan some meditation for the spring months as this is when the world and nature is at its most fertile and your job is to plants seeds. Create the spaces in peoples lives and plants seeds in those spaces. The move on and allow the seeds to grow through the warmth of summer. Take deep breaths and centre year, yourself on the outbreath until you feel calm and centred. Surround yourself with flowers and sweet essences and allow your mind to open to the higher spiritual dimensions. This way you can support others through the changes to come throughout the year and help to birth the new era of love, peace and harmony.

Thus, you will become a catalyst for the transformation that will be taking place throughout the year.

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Pesto is great to have in stock to use in pasta dishes or simply spread on some toast. There’s so much flavour and nutrition packed in those small jars.

GREEN PESTO

RED PESTO

30G Pine Nuts

1 Garlic Clove

40G Basil Leaves

30G Pine Nuts

30G Hard Edam

30G Hard Edam

1/2 Lemon

100G Sun-Dried Tomatoes

125ML Olive Oil

150G Roasted Red Peppers

1 Small Garlic Clove

25G Basil

Rock Salt

100ML Olive Oil

10G Almonds

Salt 1 Tsp Paprika Black Pepper

METHOD

METHOD

In a food processor pulse the garlic and pine nuts together with the salt. After a couple of pulses, add the cheese and repeat. Continue adding in the basil leaves and continue to blend pouring in the juice of half a lemon and the oil.

In a food processor start to blend together the garlic and nuts, then continue to add the sundried tomatoes and peppers.

The mixture should be runny but textured. Taste and season with salt and a little black pepper if required.

Once chopped up, add the leaves and cheese and blend pouring in the oil until you have a smoother and runnier, yet textured consistency.

For more delicious Mama Lotties recipes visit:

www.mamalotties.com

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CROSSWORD

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WIN!!! WIN!!!

WIN!!!

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DOWN

1. The citadel or high fortified area of an ancient Greek city (9)

1. The creation of works of beauty (4)

5. Domesticated (4)

2. Any extensive sloping walk or passageway (4)

7. First in importance (7) 9. Within (2) 11. City in Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA (5)

3. Constructed of layers or material bonded together (9) 4. A sign, token or symbol (9)

12. Half (4)

6. _ _ _ _ _ _ _te. To remove or destroy completely (7)

13. _ _ _ _ l. Modified form of Iron (4)

8. Short for minutes (4)

14. Solid form of water (3)

10. A man's forename (4)

15. A colonial system in Peru by which the Spanish government required native population to perform periodic forced labour (4)

11. To utter or voice, as opinions (4)

A FABULOUS HIMALAYAN SALT LAMP Fill in the details below and send it, with the completed crossword, to Insight Magazine, First Floor, 77 Main Street, Gibraltar (Tel: 200 40913).

Entries to be received before 24th of the month. A winner will be drawn from all correct entries and will receive a Himalayan Salt Lamp from The Light & Power Shop.

Name:....................................................................................

Address:................................................................................

Tel: ............................................

Last month’s lucky winner was: EVA NUTTALL

16. To revise or correct, as a manuscript (4)

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T H E

H A R G R AV E

THE ART OF TOWN CENTRE LIVING

It’s not all just about a sea view.

Our cityscape is full of character and beauty.

Gibraltar’s town centre is vibrant and charming and it’s only getting better.

Over the years developments like The Arches, Prince Edwards Gate and Tarik Views, to name a few are restoring the beauty of our Old Town.

The Hargrave aims to continue with the restoration of decaying yet stunning buildings into their natural glory with that contemporary touch.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

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