GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE December 2019 | Vol.25 #02
THE
FESTIVE FINLAND
YOUR CHRISTMAS DESTINATION
A-Z OF BUSINESS
STARTING YOUR OWN RESTAURANT
OFFICE PARTYWEAR
WORK-APPROPRIATE GLITZY GARB
A CATALAN BAY CHRISTMAS KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE.
6 BOOKS YOU’LL LOVE OUR MONTHLY REVIEW
VEGAN RECIPES
MAMMY’S STUFFING & CRANBERRY SAUCE
Festive Afternoon Tea Served in sophisticated surroundings at the elegant Rock Hotel Lounge Bar. Treat yourself to a quintessential experience.
3 Europa Road, Gibraltar Events: +350 200 73000/events@rockhotel.gi www.rockhotelgibraltar.com
from the editor
DECEMBER ISSUE EDITOR’S NOTE
W
riting these Editor’s letters is a very interesting, sometimes cathartic, and often panic-inducing way to track the passage of time. Starting the year with ideas of health and renewal, moving on to all things romance, followed closely by Easter, with summer hot on its heels, transitioning into a clement autumn, we find ourselves here, December.
IT'S NOT WHAT'S UNDER THE TREE THAT MATTERS, IT'S WHO'S GATHERED AROUND IT.
December is a month steeped in tradition, something the residents of Caleta would strongly agree with. Richard reveals the yuletide events the Caletenos have been putting on for many moons (p. 19). It’s also a month for me to exercise my best skill: eating. We have some tongue-tantalising recipes for vegan Christmas stuffing and cranberry sauce that will have you appointed the second most popular person at the party (after Santa) (p. 82). On a slightly less vegan note, Peter regales us with the hilarious (and true!) tale of when he tried, and spectacularly failed, to serve goose for Christmas (p. 36). (I was rooting for the goose to be honest.) Running out of ideas on what to wear for your umpteenth Christmas party? Julia, our reliable sartorial psychic, is back with her passion for fashion - and this time she’s covered it in glitter (p. 78). I (and my internal organs) are relieved to learn that skin-tight sequinned bandage dresses have a new contender in the forms of polished trousers and midi-skirts. We had some lovely messages about our recent beauty feature, so we’re bringing it back! If you’re stuck for a secret Santa present, these festive gift sets will hit the candy cane right on the head (p. 62). Maybe you just want to get away from it all this Christmas. And who can blame you? Chris points our sleigh north-east and directs the reindeer to Finland, complete with ski slopes, tobogganing, icedipping and ‘The Gibraltar of the North’ (p. 69). Thank you, dear readers, for all your letters, phone calls, photographs, and continued loyalty to our community magazine. See you in the new year, where we have some more exciting ideas up our sleeves to share with you… Buon Natale!
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
EDITOR: Sophie Clifton-Tucker editor@thegibraltarmagazine.com DESIGN: Justin Bautista design@thegibraltarmagazine.com REPORTER: Kristel Coombes SALES: Advertising Team sales@thegibraltarmagazine.com
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DISTRIBUTION: DHL martin@matrix.gi ACCOUNTS: Paul Cox paul@thegibraltarmagazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Eran and Ayelet Mamo Shay Jorge v.Rein Parlade Alex Orfila Andrew Licudi Chris Hedley Julia Coelho Kristel Coombes GHA SLT Team Jess Leaper Reg Reynolds Resham Khiani Peter Schirmer Richard Cartwright Elena Scialtiel
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Joel Francis facebook.com/gibmag/ twitter.com/gibmag instagram.com/thegibraltarmagazine/ The Gibraltar Magazine is published monthly by Rock Publishing Ltd Portland House, Glacis Road, Gibraltar, PO Box 1114 T: (+350) 20077748 E: editor@thegibraltarmagazine.com Š 2019 Rock Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written consent of The Gibraltar Magazine. www.TheGibraltarMagazine.com Magazine & website archived by the British Library 6
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
36 82 31 content 08 Hello There: What are you hoping to find under the Christmas tree? 09 What's On? 10 Around Town 12 News
BUSINESS 19 The Rocket Accelerator
38 85 72
23 A-Z of Business: Starting a restaurant
LIFE 19 A Catalan Bay Christmas 31 A Zookeeper’s Diary: What colour is your footprint? 36 The Goose That Wasn’t Cooked 38 Santa Came Down the Funnel 41 Dissecting Dementia: Sonal’s Mission
SCENE 44 Sculpt like an Egyptian 46 Oh Yes I Will, Oh No You Won’t: History of panto
ta Governor ency the e His Excell #SelflessSelfi
kes a
54 Bookish: Our monthly book review 56 The Fault: Kitty Sewell’s new novel
LEISURE 59 Deck the Halls: Decorating your home 62 Confessions of a Beauty Addict: The joy of gifting 66 Speech and Language Therapy 69 Festive Finland: Your Christmas destination 72 A Christmas Dinner 78 Office Partywear
REGULARS 82 Recipes: Vegan Cranberry Sauce and Mammy's Vegan Christmas Stuffing 84 Guides and Information 86 Satire: A Beard ‘Too Long’ And A God ‘Too Old’ For Santa 88 Clubs and Societies
48 Discarded Shards to Mermaids’ Tears: Jewellery making
89 #GibsGems
52 Looking Back at 2019
96 Kids Korner
90 Schedules 94 Coffee Time
Cover: Cover photo from Visit Gibraltar - www.visitgibraltar.gi GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
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hello there
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO FIND UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE?
Catalina Bocanet, 39, Malena Pérez, 26, Sales Genius at Newton Store "VIP ticket for Mad Cool festival in Madrid next year! I prefer experiences over material gifts."
Dora and Heidi, Former Thundercats "Dora wants a top hat and Heidi wants a lawn mower for her catnip. The usual cat stuff really."
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Sales Assistant at Newton Store "A box filled with health! Health is the most important thing to me. Or happiness!"
Charlie Brown, 24, Apple Sales Assistant at Newton Store "I would love a Bengal cat. I miss having an animal around the house. I sadly had to leave mine back in the UK with my family."
Ludo Leroy, 45,
Heiko Rademacher, 44,
Managing Director
Senior Mac Technician at Newton Store
"I’m hoping to find the new Apple Watch series 5, from somebody dear who might read this... hint hint."
"A day off. Failing which, I’ll settle for winning the Euro Millions."
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
WHAT'S ON DECEMBER 2019 THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER TO TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER Christmas Market Line Wall Road Boulevard For any further information please contact GCS Events Department, 308 Main Street on telephone 20067236 or email: info@culture.gi. WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER TO FRIDAY 17 JANUARY Affordable Art Christmas Exhibition Fine Arts Gallery, Casematesb Square For further information please contact the Fine Arts Gallery on telephone number 20052126 or email: finearts@gibtelecom.net THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER Christmas Flower Show John Mackintosh Hall, Upper Exhibition Gallery For further information or registration please contact: Anabelle on mobile number 54004737 SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER Craft & Collectors Fair
Art Exhibition by Tamara Shaw Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery, Casemates Square For further information please contact telephone +34 697219619 WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER GBC Open Day - Radio Show John Mackintosh Square For further information please contact Ian Daniels on telephone number 20079760 GBC Open Day - Live Show John Mackintosh Hall Theatre For further information please contact Paula Latin on telephone number 20079760 A Tour of Big Ben Gibraltar Garrison Library For further information please visit www.nadfas.org/gibraltar FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER Flag Day Lobby of Parliament
St Andrews Church, Governors Parade
Organised by the Animals in Need Foundation
All proceeds go to the Church Restoration Fund. Stalls available at £10, to include table and cloth. Please call 540 23 166 for further information.
SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER
Classic Vehicle Static Display Casemates Square
Dazed & Confused - Baikal Garrison Gym, Europa Road Organised by dazedandconfusedmusic TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER
For further information please contact mobile number 58009999
New Year's Eve Celebrations
MONDAY 9 DECEMBER TO THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER
For further information please email: dylanaxlemedia@yahoo.com
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECMBER 2019
Casemates Square
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around town
Rememberance Day 2019
(c) Mark Galliano Photography
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
around town Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival © KT Bruce Photography
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
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news ADOPT A KITTY My name is Tammy and I'm 9 years old. My mum passed away so I'm living in the sanctuary and I don't like it. I feel confused and vulnerable in a strange place. My sanctuary aunties are very kind, but it's not a home.
GIBRALTAR INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL 2019 This year's GIBUNCO Gibraltar Literary Festival was a great success, with a high turnout. Attendees experienced a diverse array of speakers, from Paola Diana on her book Saving the World. Women: the XXI’s Century Factor for Change, to Sam Benady and Sarah Devincenzi's A Pictorial
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It's starting to get cold here too. My aunties say I need a real 'cat person'. A quiet and calm home would be perfect where I can snuggle into a warm bed, knowing there's someone there for me. Are you out there, Cat Person? Please message me on Facebook: Gibraltar Cat Welfare Society or Instagram: gibraltarcatwelfare
History of Gibraltar, and Kitty Sewels most recent novel, The Fault, set in Gibraltar. On the first evening, there was a special tribute to Mary Chiappe; writer, teacher, and - at only 25 years of age - Gibraltar's Minister for Education. The evening included readings from Mary's novels, poetry and journalism; personal reminiscences. Festival goers were also treated to expertly prepared lunches and dinners by acclaimed chefs Jeremy Lee and Ching He Huang.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
news UK & GIBRALTAR CO-FUND HARD BREXIT CONTINGENCY PROJECTS The United Kingdom and Gibraltar Governments have met in the 10th Joint Ministerial Council for Gibraltar. The meeting included the signature of two new Memoranda of Understanding between both Governments under which the UK has agreed to financially underwrite part of certain Brexit contingency projects in Gibraltar. The signature of the new MoUs by the Chief Minister and Minister Pincher is a reflection of the close and positive working relationship between the two Governments
and reflects the challenge that Gibraltar faces as a consequence of Brexit. The UK has agreed to fund the construction of the vehicular access ramp at the port in order to allow cargo trucks to and from ferries. The cost of these works, which are now complete, were estimated at £390,000. The objective of this project is to provide Gibraltar with greater resilience by sea in the event of the difficult border. The second MoU relates to a project designed to provide greater resilience in the area of Gibraltar’s waste storage and export. The contingency plan for waste involves the purchase of machinery to shred, bale and wrap waste for storage and subsequent export by container. The machinery will
cost in the region of £862,000 and this will be paid for by the United Kingdom after agreement was ratified in the JMC. During its time in London, the Gibraltar delegation also held other strategy meetings involving various departments of the UK Government. The discussions centered on the future way forward in relation to the proposed post-Brexit relationships between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The UK has already engaged extensively with Gibraltar on this. These negotiations about the future are expected to commence immediately in the event that the UK and Gibraltar leave the European Union on 31 January. The process is obviously subject to the UK general election on 12 December.
50 wines by the glass 40 small dishes of Mediterranean cuisine 30 John Mackintosh Square GX11 1AA Gibraltar. Tel: 200 70201 info@vinopolisgastrobar.gi www.vinopolisgastrobar.gi
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
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news LOCAL GIRL RECEIVES 2ND PRIZE IN UNITED NATIONS LETTER WRITING COMPETITION Local student Alana Sacarello has received 2nd Prize (Silver Medal) in the United Nation UPU 2019 Letter Writing Competition. Millions of young people all over the world, up to the age 15, participated in this annual International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People since its launch in 1971. Each year, the UPU International Bureau announces a theme. The theme selected for the 2019 competition was: "Write a letter about your hero". The participating countries worldwide then organise the competition at the national
level with support from its Postal Services and the Education Departments. All entries must be submitted through the National Post. Each country chooses a national winner and submits this entry to the international round, held by the UPU. An international jury, chosen by the UPU International Bureau, judges the letters and selects the winners and entries worthy of a special mention. Alana said: “I was shocked when I found out I had won the Gibraltar letter writing competition so you can imagine how amazed I was when I heard I had won the international silver medal. I still can't quite believe it. I wrote my letter about how inspirational Greta Thunberg is. She showed us nobody is too small to make a difference”. The title for the 2020 competition will shortly be announced and children up to the age of 15 are encouraged to participate in this most worthwhile event.
FORTNIGHTLY OPEN DAY AT MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, TOURISM AND TRANSPORT The Ministry of Business, Tourism and Transport will open its doors to the general public every other Wednesday. This new initiative will allow people to meet directly with Minister Vijay Daryanani MP and raise with him issues relevant to his portfolio. This initiative will commence on Wednesday 20th November and continue every other Wednesday from 10am until 12 noon, by way of pre-booked appointment. The Minister for Business, Tourism and Transport, the Hon Vijay Daryanani, said: “In line with the policy of the Government, I will be delighted to meet members of the public as part of this programme. For me politics has always been about helping people. I want to listen to their concerns and connect with them not only at election time but throughout this four-year term of office. Caring for our people is of paramount importance.”
©The Love Hunters
Appointments can be booked by emailing mbtt@gibraltar.gov.gi.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
news INTERFAITH WEEK AT THE MAYOR’S PARLOUR
have respect for one another and our religions, and this should continue. It was also agreed that we should ensure the younger generations also learn to respect one another.
Any religious denominations who were unable to attend this year’s meeting and would like to be included for next year should contact the Office of the Mayor for further information.
His Worship the Mayor celebrated Interfaith Week last month by inviting members of the different religious denominations in Gibraltar to attend a meeting held at the Mayor’s Parlour. During the meeting, a number of issues were discussed. His Worship would like to see this continue throughout the year. It was agreed by all denominations involved that in Gibraltar we all
NEW PEDAL READY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED
Lack of exercise and activity is unfortunately common in Gibraltar leading to an increase in preventable risk factors that are associated with common serious illnesses including, but not limited to, diabetes and heart disease.
Pedal ready is part of Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar’s commitment to improve the health of the nation.
Pedal Ready follows on from the very successful Cycling Proficiency courses held by the RGP for over 40 years.
This first cycling course, held last month, saw eleven St. Joseph’s School, Year 6 students participate in Level 1 training, focussing on teaching the basic skills of balance and riding a bicycle safely. The training team consisted of four instructors, two of whom were trainer instructors overseeing the whole initiative. All eleven participants successfully completed and passed Level 1; similar training will now be carried out throughout other schools in Gibraltar. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
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news GIBRALTAR FINANCE DLT SEMINAR AND RECEPTION A Gibraltar Finance Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) seminar and reception was hosted last month by Minister Isola to some 1,250 leaders in cybersecurity, fintech and retail technology; the final event of the #ThinkGibraltar campaign in London
ADOPT A DOG Tiny Zurrito is waiting for a home. He was dumped through no fault of his own and desperately wants to feel loved. He is 3 years old and a great size for a family home. He is well behaved and very obedient - he just needs a chance. Could you be the one to adopt sweet Zurrito? For more info please email info@ainf.gi.
Minister Isola also took the opportunity of introducing Kerry Blight, recently appointed CEO of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, who set out his vision for the Commission after only a few weeks in the role. Minister Isola commented, “I recall our very first DLT presentation was held here in Level 39 at the very early stages of the development of our DLT regulatory framework. Our proposition has moved on and evolved strongly since then, and
it is a pleasure to be back here with a much larger audience. We now have 13 licenced firms with a further number at that advanced ‘in principle’ stage of the process. Our visit to London this week supporting the #ThinkGibraltar campaign through a series of industry sector events has showcased Gibraltar’s strong proposition across the financial services piece and with continued reciprocal UK and Gibraltar market access guaranteed I am very confident of a successful future.”
found in terrible conditions, abandoned, and left to die. With a little of your support, the AINF can work towards reducing this number. To donate, visit www. ainf.gi/ways-todonate.php. No donation is too big or too small. Thank you.
Every year, hundreds of dogs are 16
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
news LOOKING AT MALE SUICIDE The Minister for Equality, Samantha Sacramento MP, in the context of marking International Men’s Day, last month asked questions about the high number of male suicides in Gibraltar. Following meetings set up by the Ministry for Equality between stakeholder agencies, a working group has been established in order to co-ordinate knowledge and understanding of suicide and attempted suicide. The group will also look beyond mental health and will consider significant elements which may impact on a person’s life to the extent that
GIBRALTAR IN BBC
ATTENBOROUGH SERIES The Rock of Gibraltar and its furry inhabitants, the Barbary Macaques, featured in an episode of Seven Worlds, One Planet. The BBC documentary series, presented by beloved David Attenborough, was filmed over a staggering 1,794 days with
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
makes them feel suicidal. The working group will collaborate to strengthen services and, in the process, will consult with support groups, individuals and their relatives all of whom will play a vital role in informing this process. There will also be early intervention with children so as to develop their coping mechanisms as they grow older. The Ministry for Equality has delivered talks on this subject on International Men’s Day for a couple of years now. The Minister for Equality has referred her concern to the Chief Minister who has also established
92 shoots across 41 different countries. Over 1,500 people worldwide worked on the series that aims to celebrate the diversity of life in our world. A description of the episode read: “High above the city of Gibraltar, Barbary macaques - Europe’s only primate, live a life full of kidnappings and high drama… Today just 4% of Europe is protected wilderness.
an Inter-Ministerial Committee made up of the Minister for Equality, Minster for Health, the Minister for Public Health, the Minster for Education and the Minister for Youth. Minister for Equality, the Hon Samantha Sacramento, said: “Suicidal thoughts are more frequent than people realise, but the vast majority will not go to take their own life. All suicides are of course concerning and I am particularly concerned that this seems to predominantly affect men. I am grateful to the Ministry for Equality for focusing the minds of all professionals and setting up the working group to look into this matter.”
Many of Europe’s animals have suffered at the hands of man for thousands of years. However, recently dedicated conservation efforts have thrown a lifeline to a lucky few. Once on the brink of extinction, the Iberian lynx is returning to the hills of Spain. Numbers have increased from under 100 to 700 in a matter of decades. Only by protecting the wilderness that remains, and creating new wild spaces, can a future for Europe’s precious wildlife be ensured”.
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As part of the 5th Anniversary celebration of Benefit Business Solutions, the Rock’s only Innovation Consultancy, a series of 5 events were held in which it was unveiled that a technology start-up accelerator will be set up in Gibraltar - ‘The Rocket Accelerator’. vided a tour of Continent 8’s impressive facility.
T
he events were held at Continent 8’s highly secure Data Centre located in a tunnel inside the depth of the Rock, and attended by leading business executives and government representatives, including the new Minister for Business, Vijay Daryanani, and HE Governor of Gibraltar, as well as Continent 8’s Executive Director, David Black (who flew especially from Dublin) and General Manager in Gibraltar, Luis Garcia, who provided a tour of Continent 8’s impressive facility. Drawing on the experience that Benefit Business Solutions’ directors have with the Israeli market - a country well known for being the ‘Innovation Nation’ and a place from where many technology start-ups have evolved, the Rocket Accelerator is being formed in partnership with Gold Ventures Incubator (GVI), a company which already operates two start-up incubators in the Tel Aviv area, and similar accelerator programs in 8 countries around the world, with their local partners. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
GVI’s CEO - Mr Jacob (Kobi) Kalderon - arrived in Gibraltar from Israel for the events and presented to attendees his vision and model of how the Accelerator will operate, along with the global network of investors, mentors and deal flow of start-up companies that GVI brings, not only from Israel but from other parts of the world too. For his part, Eran Shay, Managing Director of Benefit Business Solutions, commented: “Gibraltar offers some unique benefits to start-up companies that want to test trial their solutions in the real world, prior to penetrating the big markets. The small size of the jurisdiction means that processes that take years or many months in the big
Processes can be done in a much shorter period due to fewer layers of bureaucracy and easy access to top decision makers.
business
THE ROCKET ACCELERATOR
countries can be done here in a much shorter period due to fewer layers of bureaucracy and easy access to top decision makers, be it in Government or in the Private Sector. This fast time to market, along with the fact that Gibraltar complies with EU Directives and British standards, means that start-ups can easily leverage their success here in order to penetrate the bigger markets such as the UK, Europe and beyond. These inherent advantages are here to stay, Brexit or no-Brexit, and our Rocket Accelerator program will provide the ideal platform through which start-ups can utilise these benefits”. The Accelerator model also provides investors with a safer way to invest in Venture Capital since the start-ups that will participate, will first undergo an intensive process of evaluation, analysis and due-diligence, to ensure they are of the right fit and match to Gibraltar. The cherrypicked start-ups will then enjoy being closely ‘hand-held’ by a network of mentors, consultants and other professionals who will be responsible to steer each start-up in the right 19
business
direction, connecting them both to investors and to larger corporates where their solutions can be implemented. This means investors who are looking to invest in start-up companies, will have more comfort knowing their investments are being guided, monitored and managed by a team of external professionals with proven track record in Venture Capital. This in turn improves the chances of the start-up companies to grow and succeed, thereby producing a higher success conversation rate and better Return on Investment to investors. According to Ayelet Mamo Shay, co-founder and Business Development Director of Benefit Business Solutions, “One of the objectives of the Accelerator is also to foster a culture of innovation in Gibraltar, and by 20
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business It will move Gibraltar closer to becoming the ‘Silicon Rock’. and would hence be much better placed to utilise the fast time to market advantage that Gibraltar offers. In terms of the premises where these start-ups will actually sit, the idea is that the Rocket Accelerator will utilise one of the existing shared-working-space facilities available in Gibraltar, thereby saving the need to fit-out and equip its own office space.
seeing exciting tech start-ups coming to Gibraltar, young people will get the inspiration and aspiration to become entrepreneurs and develop innovative businesses. It will also stimulate a Venture Capital culture locally, where investments are being made, either from within or from outside Gibraltar, in Gibraltar based tech start-ups. Moreover, local corporates will enjoy access to the latest technologies and can further enhance their relationship with the start-ups that would come, in ways that can be useful for their own operational needs. It is therefore a project in which Gibraltar as a whole could benefit”. It is important to distinguish between a technology Incubator and an Accelerator. At an Incubator Program start-ups arrive with just an idea or GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
technology concept, and through the guidance of the Incubator they are able to turn this idea into a business concept and reach what is known as the Minimum Viable Product phase, where they have a prototype or some proof of concept, and may have been able to raise some initial funding (pre-seed). At the Accelerator phase, these start-ups actually implement their solutions in the real world, at their potential client’s site, and through intensive mentoring and consulting processes, along with greater investment, they are able to scaleup and enhance their product to reach commercialisation stage, where they are penetrating various markets. Start-ups arriving at the Accelerator would have already gone through the Incubator phase at their home countries
The Rocket Accelerator will be a pivotal component in Gibraltar’s economic diversification to the technology sector. It will attract start-ups in a variety of sectors, such as Fintech, CleanTech, software development, smart-city solutions, InsurTech, maritime technologies and even Biotech. It will attract a pool of tech-savvy professionals and will move Gibraltar closer to becoming the ‘Silicon Rock’.
ERAN SHAY, Managing Director & AYELET MAMO SHAY, Business Development Director of Benefit Business Solutions Ltd. (+350) 200 73669 general@benefitgibraltar.com 21
business
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
business
THE A-Z OF BUSINESS How to start and run your own restaurant.
H
aving written a considerable number of articles about property and where to buy real estate stock in order to obtain good rates of rental returns and eventually sell on making a fair profit, we shall now move ahead and look into other business opportunities. In this article we will move on to the hospitality business and restaurants in particular. It is interesting to see that there is a significant amount of people that decide to venture into the highly complex and labourintensive restaurant business. What most people do not know is that restaurants are not an easy business. Point of fact, simple as this business may look to the outside investor, it is a highly complex business sector. If you wish to make a success out of it you must be willing to put in the long hours, days and months before you see the profits. It can be a risky venture if you do
not know what you are up to. Here are a few important factors that will hopefully be of some help to the young and brave entrepreneur who decides against all odds to start his or her own restaurant: In a place like Gibraltar, like in most other places, the first thing to do is to study the market and see what there is. Today, like in any other healthy economy, there is a lot out there on offer, covering most of the market needs. The answer is to make a list and see what is and isn’t available. You should walk the town and look into where most restaurants are located. If, for instance, your idea is to start a pizza restaurant, do remember that the market is fairly wellcovered with choices that range from Pizza Express to Dominos and plenty of independent pizza restaurants to cater for all tastes and budgets. Unless you come up with something
You must be willing to put in the long hours, days and months before you see the profits.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
very original and decide to move away from the standard pizzeria and come up with, for example, a ‘Gourmet Pizza’ idea and price them accordingly, you may struggle to make some decent money. It is as simple as doing either something totally different or improving something that already exists. Not easy but certainly not impossible. A great idea would be to jump on a plane and fly to London - see what’s new. Spend a week or two looking for ideas that don’t exist back in Gibraltar. And perhaps try Paris afterwards. Casual dining is perhaps where you want to be; affordable to most, family friendly… It seems to do fine regardless of the economic times. What is this casual dining thing all about? The best answer to that could be to do a layout of the different dining options in the market. These could be as follows:
1
High-end fine dining. Restaurants that offer the best of the very best. Finest service, food and décor. Top chefs. State-of-theart presentation. Often award winners and Michelin starred. 23
business To the best of my knowledge no such place exists in Gibraltar. Maybe there is a market for this. The investment could be very substantial but the idea could be a success.
2 3
Gourmet mid-end. Not cheap but good value and decent food. There are some of this kind about in Gibraltar.
Casual dining. Informal restaurants serving from pizza to curry meals or sushi and Chinese. There is a lot on offer but still plenty of room to start something original. If you get it right this is perhaps where the money is.
4
Low-cost: Fast food and takeaway outlets. This is perhaps the most economic of choices which attract the crowds of youngsters and families. There are a good number of chains present in Gibraltar. Some are highly successful whilst others less so but they can still make a
restaurant franchising world as this may possibly be the subject of another article. When there is a downturn in the global economy the worst hit are in the upper end of this so called pyramid and people will most likely stop or reduce using the top two whilst they will continue to use choices 3 and 4. If your choice is either casual dining or some form of take-away or delivery business try and do something different. Two friends of mine from London picked up an idea of selling sandwiches in the City of London some 25 years ago. Sandwiches in London? Yes, that’s right. Sandwiches in a sandwich-minded and oriented country where this type of fare is as old as the sea. And did they succeed? Well the truth is they started off with one sandwich shop in Victoria Street London and their turnover last year 2018 was close to £1 billion. They own nearly 500 shops. Their secret was simple: top ingredients. Their packaging is brilliant. Their quality superb. Great value for money
worldwide. These two examples give you an idea of how a simple and established idea - sandwiches and roasted spicy chicken - can be turned into a multimillionpound enterprise. As I am quite positive, the founders of the two mentioned ventures did not know their business would flourish in such a manner. They put into them everything from their heart to probably all their limited resources and it worked. Once you have decided what to open up there are 5 factors that must be included in your business plan:
1 2
Cost of labour and social insurance. Try and keep it to a maximum of 30% of your sales income.
Food and beverages cost. This could vary between 18% and 35%. The money is normally in Italian, Chinese and Hamburgers. These three cuisines will therefore have the lowest food cost. A pizza Margherita
It is as simple as doing either something totally different or improving something that already exists. profit. This is the most common case of working with a franchise brand. The really good ones ask for a massive investment which could be close to the one-million mark in some cases. Others ask for outrageous royalty fees as well as huge initial fees and payments on exchange of contracts. I would be extremely cautious when entering any type of franchise restaurant business but we shall not go any further into the 24
and a great look. A good example of how something as simple as a sandwich can be turned into a highly successful enterprise. Another example is Nando’s. Some 20 years ago two friends from South Africa and Mozambique started selling spicy roasted chicken in Johannesburg. Simple as this may sound, it was a roaring success and today Nando’s owns over 1000 restaurants
costs about £1. I would be surprised if you can get a decent one for less than £6 or £7. This means margins are excellent but competition is fierce. Make sure you know this. With burgers and Chinese food cost is slightly higher but margins remain very good.
3
Rent. This is expensive in Gibraltar but certainly no more than in prime
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business locations along the coast, let alone the main areas of large cities of Europe. Get the best is the answer. And try and get it for fair money. You should keep it lower than 10% of your turnover. 5% would be ideal but not easy. Do not fall into the ‘key’ money trap. Such an extra is only justified if the shop is ready and has already a clientele. Make sure the shop has smoke extractor facilities or that these can be built. And put it in the lease contract. Negotiate with the landlord and keep it as low as possible if this were the case.
4
General expenses. This is a broad factor that would include marketing costs, utility bills, rates, local taxes if any (not income tax or company tax), tax return fees and bookkeeper. About 5% could be reasonable.
5
Royalty fees. Between 3% and 9%. Only applies if you have a franchise.
Once you decide to go ahead make sure you are there running
it if it is your first outlet. If your idea is good and original there is no reason why your venture should not fly. A good cook who not only cooks well but looks well after your stocks and purchases is essential. A topclass headwaiter or waitress works wonders. Honesty in the hospitality business is most important - much more so than in any other business as it is so easy to steal you blind. There are over 20 ways in which your staff can steal from you do not forget. With the help of modern cameras it is not as easy, but still possible. Good restaurateurs establish a percentage for thefts. With payments done primarily by card or other electronic methods this percentage gets slimmer but bear it in mind. Last but by no means least the restaurant business is very complex and I normally recommend it to entrepreneurs who really have a passion for food and the hospitality business in general. Maybe it is in the family and you were brought up with it as it happened to me. Or maybe you are the first and could make a success. Be consistent and work hard on developing the idea and you should normally arrive.
JORGE V.REIN PARLADE MBA Business Consultant +350 54045282 jorgeparlade@aol.com
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
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life
A CATALAN BAY CHRISTMAS
Dockyard workers walking out of the North Gate singing and making merry is just one event of many customs not practiced at Christmastime anymore, but down at Catalan Bay, to this day, traditions are kept and the celebrations are well on the way! BY RICHARD CARTWRIGHT
T
here is a tendency in many cases where, as time passes and older generations move on, customs slowly pass on with them. The Catalan Bay community does not subscribe to that idea, and so important and joyful events started by the village’s forefathers are not allowed to die off. Hence, Christmastime is one to celebrate to the full, very importantly ‘as a community’ and not just individually, a practice not so prevalent in Gibraltar’s other neighbourhoods these days... “Father Christmas is coming!” you’ll hear a grown up exclaim, and all the village’s children assemble in the Catalan Bay Social Club in anxious anticipation. “There he is!” another resident shouts from outside the club as Santa winds his way down Conchita Street, Ho! Ho! Ho!-ing and ringing his bell. That’s the unique way the festivities get GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
started at Catalan Bay, ‘Village People’ spokesman, Johnny Walker informs me. “That’s right, it’s very well organised to the point where the children’s parents or guardians must hand in presents the previous morning before his arrival and must all be reasonably equal in size and cost so as not to upset kids or parents.” Johnny says, “Every head of the family must be a Catalan Bay Social Club member and pay a yearly subscription. The kids then enjoy a lovely party and have a great time.” Another fun-filled event is the Christmas draw at the social club. The old traditional drum which turns manually is dusted and put on display - before that a grid on a board is put up at the club with a thousand numbers and members make their choice until all the numbers are taken: food hampers,
other goodies and small electrical appliances are the prizes on offer. “On the night, although we have a PA system, the callers must shout out the numbers as was done in the past when there were no mics. Three individuals take it in turn to do the calling, which can last a few hours, so they end up pretty hoarse! As the evening progresses and throats tire, you will get members shouting out, “Que numero dijiste que no me entero (what was that number, I didn’t get that)?” It turns out to be a very enjoyable night as afterwards drinking and singing, accompanied by guitar playing continues till the early hours. The Christmas spirit is now in full swing with all the villancicos and other Christmas tunes being sung in the club. Revellers make their way through the village alleyways singing their hearts out: Johnny says, “El ‘Kiko’ is the leader, our guitar player who’s a very funny guy!” 27
life Christian Ferrary is presently Catalan Bay President - formerly known as the ‘Headman’ or ‘Alcalde’. During Christmas he’s called upon once or twice during the celebrations to say a few words. Significantly, townsfolk are not allowed to take part in any of the celebrations, again sticking to tradition, keeping the whole affair strictly to Catalan Bay convention. Faithful to the ways of the past, the coloured lights stretched across the waterfront are lit adding to the yuletide atmosphere and the Christmas ambiente is slowly raised in the village as ‘the day’ gets closer. Midnight Mass, or Misa de Gallo is a big event on the eve of Christmas Day and that’s when singing in the village comes into its own. Music teacher Mrs Lopez conducts her choir at the full to capacity Lady of Sorrows church and treats the congregation to an appropriate and delightful performance for a night of Christian celebration. After the service more music and chat continue on the ramp outside the church. Later, doors in the village homes are left open and residents pop in from home to home and treated to
drinks, polvorones and other Xmas delights... “Everyone is pretty tired after that but come Christmas Day many of us, the men especially, stand by the beach walls chatting and having a drink whilst the women get Christmas lunch ready. Boxing Day is next and that’s an important one...The Polar Bear Swim, first started by local resident Louis Posso and Caleta Hotel Manager at the time, Jimmy Valarino. It’s become a big event with over a thousand swimmers or dippers taking part. Brandy and mince pies are provided by the Caleta and my job is to take charge, stand in the sea facing the crowd and at exactly twelve noon blow the whistle and wave my flag signalling the start. A couple of minutes to midday the swimmers start chanting ‘Johnny! Johnny!’ but I wait till it’s exactly twelve noon.” It’s true the event has become bigger and bigger each year and it makes for good business for the bars and restaurants, Johnny confirms. Christmas fun continues at Catalan Bay on the last day of the year, but not before another fun night a couple of days earlier: The Sherry Party, where not very
much sherry is consumed at all! “Well it’s tradition again and that’s what it’s called. Food is delivered to the club from some restaurant or other, except for a big paella and potato or tuna salad prepared by the women here. Leftover food is consumed the next morning in what we call gavioteando scene, when the seagulls have a feast!” On the Sherry Party night there is an open bar and everyone has a great time. Finally, on New Year’s Eve Villancicos are played loudly from music systems in the homes, champagne bottles are popped when midnight arrives, and again visiting from home to home and drinking continues - no invitations - you just come by. Meanwhile a well organised fireworks display set on racks on the beach is on the go, with ships close by in the bay blasting their horns in reply. Entertainment is supplied by Ricky and his karaoke, whilst Avelino and Joe supply the cabaret imitating Tom Jones or someone else ending the festivities at some unearthly hour on the 1st January as the happy and joyful yuletide events - sadly for some - come to a close for yet another year. Evidently Catalan Bay residents make sure tradition doesn’t die and what’s organised every year during Las Pascuas is proof of that. It’s called, true community spirit and not letting go of something which has been the Christmas tradition in this little corner of the Rock for decades, whilst now practically nonexistent in other neighbourhoods around Gibraltar. It’s Christmastime at Catalan Bay and the Caletenos are keeping a genuine and happy custom alive. Long may it continue, and happy festivities to all!
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
life
A ZOOKEEPERS DIARY Our monthly spotlight on the superstars at the Alameda Wildlife Conservation park… and their keepers! This month, we ask: What colour is your footprint?
Rainfo lasshouse
The G
ience
r rest e xpe
BY JESS LEAPER
F
or a zoo as small as the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park (AWCP), collaboration is everything. The park is situated within the stunning Gibraltar Botanic Gardens (GBG), locally known as The Alameda. On a day-today basis, the Botanic Gardens and the Wildlife Park operate different functions the realms of horticulture and animal husbandry respectively, but each section will help the other out when required. Every week, gardener Andrew Abrines, brings the much-needed browse (fresh, edible vegetation) to the park for the staff to give to the animals to eat or to provide them with shelter and enrichment. The park will also use chipping created from waste vegetation for their enclosures. This is GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
just one of the many ways the Botanic Gardens and the Wildlife Park work together to be more sustainable. Every year the Wildlife Park holds at least two open days for the local community to find out more about what they do and also to fundraise for their many projects to improve the lives of the animals. Up until recently, these popular open days were confined to the Wildlife Park, just a one-acre section of the gardens. For the first time ever this year the Botanic Gardens co-hosted the mid-term open day with the AWCP.
GBG; the work that is carried out by the scientific team in the laboratories, led by Director, Dr Keith Bensusan, or know about the stunning array of cacti cultivated by the Gardens Curator Andrzej Gdaniec, or the fantastic Biodome Educational Area plans and educational work carried out by Christine Gilder and Andrew Abrines. This open day gave general public the opportunity to find out more about the GBG as a whole and the work they do. For the Wildlife Park, it gave the opportunity to explore other ideas and collaborations, previously made difficult due to restricted space available in the small area.
Many visitors to the gardens perhaps don’t know what goes on behind the scenes at the
The open day was also timed perfectly with the launch of the ‘Habits for Habitats’ (H4H) 31
life Sustainable Food Stalls & the Village Fete
Gibraltar to incite a change in our human habits for the sake of the environment, from tackling air pollution, to yearly ‘Clean up the World’ initiatives, regular community Beach Cleans to preserving ocean habitats, working with local species conservation, providing bat boxes and swift nests in new buildings and raising awareness of the need to provide and preserve habitats for local species both on land and in the oceans. As a tribute to the crucial role these fantastic NGO’s play and to raise awareness of their work, they were invited to take part in the Open Day. TNP & the Rotary Club arrived early to set up their stalls. The Rotary Club also set up a clothes rail with pre-loved clothing for sale, to promote the need for more sustainable fashion. Both NGO’s were also selling re-fillable aluminium bottles at the event and AquaGib kindly loaned their bowser for the day to help reduce waste. No plastic bottles were sold during the event and all waste was kept to a minimum throughout.
campaign. This campaign follows on from the work of the Conscious eating and CutMeatNotTrees campaigns. Both aimed to encourage people to reduce the amount of meat and dairy in their diets, for the sake of the environment. The H4H campaign highlights how many of our everyday habits are affecting the environment and what action individuals can take in order to help save habitats. This is increasingly important given the climate crisis and the impacts of this on habitats and 32
vulnerable species all over the world, particularly those related to the animal species at the Wildlife Park. Local NGO’s such as The 11 12 1 Nautilus 10 2 Project 9 3 (TNP), 8 4 Gibraltar 7 6 5 Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) and the Environmental Safety Group (ESG) have been working for many years in
Volunteers begin to arrive to help set up the stalls. As part of the collaboration of the day, volunteers from local company, Playtech, offered their time to help run the ‘Village Fête’ area of the Open Day at the Lion’s Pond area. The idea behind this area was to create an old-fashioned village fete atmosphere. At previous Open days, the obligatory Bouncy castle had been a highlight for many children. Not only can these be difficult to manage, they are also
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
life Sustainable Food Stalls & the Village Fete2
not a very sustainable activity due to the power required to keep them inflated. The AWCP and GBG instead created various ‘old fashioned’ fun activities such as a coconut shy, skittles, hook a ‘duck’ face-painting and photo booth, created from mostly up-cycled materials. Volunteers from the AWCP also contributed with scrumptious cakes for the cake stall. Dylan Fletcher from Playtech lead his volunteers on the day, in what turned out to be one of the busiest areas of the Open Day. Through donations alone and profits from the cake stall, Playtech managed to raise over £300 for the AWCP’s ongoing Overground Tunnels Project. Playtech have also pledged a generous further donation for the AWCP’s Cotton-top tamarin Breeding Area planned for next year. One exciting collaboration was with the UK-based foundation; The Pharaoh Foundation and their recently launched Pharaoh Footsteps (TM). This initiative seeks to involve children in the preservation of endangered species by introducing them to the IUCN Red List of endangered species, through a series of coloured stencils. For the event, the Pharaoh Foundation very kindly flew over from UK to run the activity and to provide the materials needed for future footprints.
Davis and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Culture and Heritage, Prof Dr John Cortes, were present at the start of the event to create the first stencils of the day. The AWCP chose footprints of species relevant to their animal collection and also local species such as the Barbary partridge and European rabbit, both nearly extinct in Gibraltar before recent intervention to replenish numbers. The tiny Cotton-top tamarin is one of the most endangered species of primate in the world so these were included but obviously the footprints were not to scale!
To inaugurate the initiative and the Habits for Habitats campaign, His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar, Lieutenant General
Children (and adults) were invited to select a species that most struck a chord with them, they could then read the information
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
and learn some more about the animal and its IUCN Red List status, before stencilling a RedList colour-coded footprint on the ground. This impermanent footprint stencil will eventually wear away, a rather poignant impermanence, given that many of these species may become extinct in the next 50 years. The process can be repeated year after year and species can be followed to see if there have been any improvements in their conservation status. The AWCP hopes to take this initiative into schools in Gibraltar over the next year. If you visit the park over the next few months, don’t forget to come and see the striking array of endangered species footprints on our balcony area! Future plans for this stunning 33
life area are for a community based Local Biodiversity & Learning Area in the area adjacent to the park. Plans have been drawn up and fundraising for this exciting project will likely commence in early 2020. This area will promote the work of local NGO’s and local conservationists to conserve the local biodiversity of Gibraltar. Conservation projects can be showcased here to promote the valuable work being carried out to conserve local species and habitats. With such a wealth of biodiversity both on land and in the oceans, many visitors to Gibraltar miss out on this information. Visitors to the
Wildlife Park and Botanic Gardens will be able to see for themselves the rich biodiversity of Gibraltar and the surrounding areas and the valuable work that is being carried out locally to preserve it.
sample the recently imported ‘Beyond Meat’ burger. This plant-based ‘tastes like meat’ burger had been introduced to Gibraltar by the AWCP & Conscious Eating team at this year’s Calentita. The stall at the Open Day was run by the co-creator of The Kasbar, Ronnie Alecio. The Kasbar is Gibraltar’s only vegan restaurant and can be found tucked away in Castle Street. The Kasbar also kindly provided their spectacular BBQ sauce to accompany the fare.
As lunchtime fast approached, the open day revellers, hungry from watching the ‘Feasts with the Beasts’ at the Wildlife Park, began to look for sustenance. The Sustainable Food Stall area above the Lion’s Pond, provided an opportunity to refuel and to
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Another really exciting turnout was the re-appearance of the ever-popular Verdi-Verdi’s Idan Greenburg with his delightful falafel and world renowned
A Little English/B2 Projects initiative to help combat seniors' loneliness
SENIORS TEA FOR TWO Christmas
10th December
Music, hot & cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes & socialising. Every 2nd Tuesday of the month, at 2pm. Calpe Rowing Club seniorsteafortwo@gmail.com +350 54008999
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
Time to pack up after an exhausting but fun-filled day. The theme of the event was sustainability and Habits for Habitats. The NGO’s and various stalls and events oozed innovation, fun and imagination, all with a strong sustainable message, something so crucial for the future of the planet. Resources like the Botanic Gardens and the Wildlife Park are so important for communities such as Gibraltar. Just spending time in natural surroundings has been proven to improve both mental and physical wellbeing, something increasingly important in our busy lives. The Gardens and Park are here for the community and for visitors to enjoy and relax in a calm oasis. Despite the large numbers at the Open Day, the atmosphere was fun and educational but relaxed and calm throughout. We hope it is the first of many such days. In fact, the next Open Day is provisionally planned for the first weekend of May. If you missed out this time, then be sure to pop that in your diary and watch this space!
Habitats at Home
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hummus with chilli jam. The funds raised (£530!) on both the food stalls will go towards the BioDome Educational Project. This fantastic eden-style design by Gamma Architects will serve as an interactive, horticultural educational area for visiting schools.
by Christine Gilder and the Gardens team. Further down was the very popular children’s Tree Climbing with Ian Linares, the GBG specialist tree surgeon and Gardener’s Tony Martinez, hoisting children in safety harnesses up a large tree all day long.
One hour from 12 the end of 11 1 the event 10 2 and the 9 3 Botanic 8 4 Gardens and 7 6 5 the AWCP was heaving with visitors, possibly more visitors than ever before. It was fantastic to see all areas of the Gardens being used. Just across the bridge over the dell there were cacti plant stalls and the Children’s Garden area and ‘Grow Your Own’ displays created
At the Glasshouse, Andrew Abrines was creating his magical array of natural-art, from pull along ducklings made from seedpods, to hanging bird-like figures with mechanical flapping ‘wings’, inspiring people to look at the natural world from a different perspective and to appreciate the beauty of natural toys and art in nature. It was also a chance for visitors to see inside the stunning Rainforest Experience of the Glasshouse, a perfect rainforest biome under one roof.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
A huge thank you to all involved in the Open Day, from staff, volunteers, special guests and the visitors. If you could like to find out more about the AWCP or GBG, or to contribute to any of their projects, contact info@awcp.gi or check out: www.awcp.gi or www. gibraltargardens.gi. You can also purchase some fantastic up-cycled Christmas decorations and gifts from the GBG team at this year’s Convent Christmas Fair.
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life
THE GOOSE THAT WASN’T COOKED Encounters with feathered Christmas fare. BY PETER SCHIRMER
“H
ey, Santa! Where’s your red coat? … And your beard isn’t long enough.” The youngster’s mocking call rang across the concourse of Cape Town’s station, drawing attention to the hessian sack slung over my shoulder and thumping uncomfortably against my spine. It was eight o’clock on Christmas Eve, and I was hurrying through the throng of revellers and lastminute shoppers to catch the 8:05 train to Newlands and my thirdfloor flat overlooking the brewery, and, beyond it, the famous cricket grounds. The sack which had drawn the lad’s attention contained a goose. A live goose. A gander, kicking its protest in a painful tattoo. Luck is seldom my lady. Lottery winnings, and prizes in raffles elude me. But a few hours earlier I had won the bird in a Christmas raffle in the bar of Cape Town’s Cafe Royal, the city’s unofficial ‘Press Club’. Defying fate after a particularly bibulous and lengthy ‘lunch’, I had bought three raffle 36
tickets, less in support of some charity long since forgotten, than in the hope of winning six bottles of Cutty Sark whisky. Ganesh, the friendly Cape Malay barman who had persuaded me to part with three shillings – a not insignificant portion of a monthly salary of £10.17 – had said nothing about second and third
The sack which had drawn the lad’s attention contained a goose. prizes. Nor, when he leant across the bar to tell me that I had won a third prize goose, did he mention that it was alive. He added only that it was in a bag to be collected from the kitchen. “Aye, a couple of hours in the oven and it will make you a fine Christmas feast,” said Jock Webster – a Scots Speed Graphic
wizard who had overheard Ganesh’s announcement. It was encouraging, particularly coming from a colleague whose substantial waist suggested a comfortable acquaintance with good food. [As well as gourmet pretences, Jock claimed to have fled to South Africa from his native Glasgow to escape English legal wrath as one of four university students who, on Christmas Day four years earlier, had ‘removed’ the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey and taken back to Scotland this ‘Stone of Destiny’, used in the coronation of early Scottish kings. This, much later, proved to have been one of many Walter-Mitty accomplishments. But I was then a naive young reporter, and still believed that journalists always told the truth...] The horrifying discovery that this goose was far from ready for the oven came only when, after several more convivial glasses, I collected my prize before heading for a home-bound train. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
life heap of the past... Until Cape Town’s major department store - a South African version of Harrods - opened a delicatessen section which promised a cornucopia of imported luxuries, including Scots smoked salmon, Beluga caviar, English cheddar and stilton, Dutch pickled herring, and imported British pheasant. Early in December I placed my order, and watched as the saleslady carefully wrote: “1 side of smoked salmon, 1 pair of dressed pheasants. Deposit R30. Collecting Dec 24.”
The goose emerged in an irate storm of droppings and feathers. As I pushed through the Christmas crowds; as I listened to the goose scrabbling under the seat where I had pushed its sack; and as I paused to listen to a Salvation Army band playing carols on the platform of Newlands station, I pondered the goose’s fate. And, still undecided when I reached my flat, opened the door onto the balcony, gingerly untied the neck of the sack and tipped out the goose, which emerged in an irate storm of droppings and feathers. It reared up, hissed angrily, and banged its beak on the glass door - behind which I had retreated as the bird attempted to peck me. When it moved away, I quickly pushed a bowl of water and a stale half-loaf onto the balcony. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
It could stay there until I made up my mind. But geese have wings; and when I woke on Christmas morning the bird had flown. Literally. My second encounter with feathered Christmas fare came decades later. Married now and with two young daughters, it had become something of a family ‘tradition’ to hold ‘open house’ for lunch on Boxing Day. It had begun when the head chef in the kitchens of the Mount Nelson then Cape Town’s finest and only five-star hotel - presented me with a brace of dressed pheasants as a Christmas gift... though I can’t remember why. Roast pheasant - then a rarity, for the birds were imported from the UK - as the centre-piece of that meal, set the ‘tradition’. And for several years. until my friendly chef took his skills to more lucrative Johannesburg, the Mount Nelson kitchen continued to supply our Boxing Day roasts. His successor was less obliging; and the ‘tradition’ seemed headed for the scrap-
And mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve - long liquid lunches as much a thing of the past as last-minute dashes for suburban trains by a now-middle-aged journo -I collected a neatly parcelled package from the delicatessen. Triumph. Until, at home in the kitchen, I unwrapped distinctive department store paper and opened the cardboard box it covered. The side of salmon – perfect. But what were those bright colours, dimmed only by the greaseproof paper? The plumage of a cock pheasant, that’s what... There must have been a mistake. There was still time. I picked up the phone... dialled... was put through to the saleslady... and explained. “But, Mr Schirmer, you asked for the birds to be dressed and they are. They’ve got their feathers on.” Even with a large pot of boiling water to dip the birds in, plucking pheasants is not a happy way to spend a Christmas morning... And there’s an appropriate Spoonerism to describe it. 37
history
SANTA CAME DOWN THE FUNNEL
When the steamship SS Runic stopped off Gibraltar on December 24th, 1919, the children on board the troopship were pleasantly surprised when jolly old Santa Claus appeared toting a bag laden with toys. Instead of arriving via the traditional chimney, Santa had come down the ship’s funnel…
BY REG REYNOLDS
T
he SS Runic, a White Star Line cruise liner, left Liverpool on December 19, carrying 390 officers and men of the Australian Army who had fought in World War One and had waited more than a year for transport home. The soldiers were accompanied by 330 wives and children, including 25 newborns in bassinets. There were ten Australian nurses on board to help with the wounded and the babies and special arrangements had been made for preparing baby food, and a laundry was set up specifically to wash the baby’s linen diapers. The Yorkshire Post of December 22nd, reported under the headline A Family Troopship: The vessel will be passing Gibraltar on Christmas Eve and Father Christmas will come down the ship’s chimney (fortunately the Runic’s funnel is wide enough to accommodate Father Christmas and a great big bag of toys). 38
A celebrated soldier on board the Runic was Lawrence Dominic ‘Fats’ McCarthy who had won the Victoria Cross in a battle near the town of Chaulnes in the Somme department of northern France. On August 23rd, 1918, McCarthy, who had survived the disastrous campaign in Gallipoli, performed what was described as the most effective piece of individual fighting in the history of the Australia Imperial Force. Under extreme machine gun fire in an area called Madam Wood, McCarthy dashed across 40 yards of open ground. Firing his revolver and throwing bombs he attacked the German trenches, killing 25 of the enemy, capturing 55 others and securing six machine guns. On November 21st, 1918, ten days after the war had ended, McCarthy was evacuated to England with influenza. The flu epidemic of 1918-1919 would kill an estimated 50 million people worldwide, but McCarthy survived, and on July 12th, 1919 he attended Buckingham Palace
He attacked the German trenches, killing 25 of the enemy. where he received his Victoria Cross from King George V. McCarthy was born in York, Western Australia on January 21st, 1892 but was orphaned at an early age and was raised in the Clontarf Orphange at Perth. He was educated at Catholic schools and later apprenticed on a farm, joined a militia and lost three fingers on his left hand while working at a sawmill. Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4th August 1914 and Australia quickly raised an army of 20,000 in support. McCarthy enlisted as a Private in October 1914 but after five years of fighting had achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He had married Florence Norville GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
history SS Runic at sea.
retirement in 1969.
Lawrence Dominic McCarthy in 1920.
McCarthy died in Melbourne on May 25th, 1975 aged 83. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The McCarthy’s only son Lawrence, was killed fighting the Japanese on Bougainville Island on May 20th, 1945.
in London and she celebrated Christmas with him on the Runic during the voyage to Australia. McCarthy left the army in 1920 and sold farm equipment for Sunshine Harvester Works until 1934 when he joined with Trustees, Executors & Agency Co. He stayed with that firm until his GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
At the end of The Great War SS Runic returned to regular service as a cruise liner but in 1930 she was sold and converted to a whaling factory ship and renamed New Sevilla. On September 20th, 1940 New Sevilla was sailing with convoy OB 216 from Liverpool to Antarctica when she was torpedoed by U-138 off Malin Head, Galway Ireland. New Sevilla stayed afloat and was taken under tow but sank the next day. As a result, only two
The 27 survivors were taken prisoner and transferred to Gibraltar. lives were lost and there were 285 survivors. U-138 torpedoed and sank three more cargo ships in convoy OB 216 and would sink another three freighters before meeting her end. The U-boat was spotted by HMS Faulknor near Cadiz on May 20th, 1941. On seeing the approaching destroyer, Captain Franz Gramitzky ordered an emergency dive but three depth charges from Faulknor caused sufficient damage that U-138 surfaced and the crew surrendered. There were no deaths and the 27 survivors were taken prisoner and transferred to Gibraltar. 39
Stephens Season’s greetings from Moore Stephens Gibraltar
• Audit and assurance • Accounting • Payroll • Taxation advice and compliance For more information please contact: enquiries@msgib.com or call us on +350 200 74518 Moore Stephens Limited is a company incorporated in Gibraltar. Registered Number 103142. Registered with the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission.
www.msgib.com
health
DISSECTING DEMENTIA: SONALS MISSION
Dementia is a global problem with a growing importance to have measures in place to deal with it. BY RESHAM KHIANI
T
his is where the Rock’s first ever GHA Physician Associate, Sonal Samtani, plays a massive role, amongst others, to gather medical guidelines and statistics on dementia. With sparse information available on the Rock, Sonal realised having structures in place on how to deal with patients and assess them would be necessary and useful in understanding the illness. She humbly confesses that “Funnily enough, I don’t feel like I chose to study dementia, but more like the subject chose me”. It seems fate has led her to her life purpose. With a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Warwick, along with a Physician Associate postgraduate from Birmingham University under her belt, Sonal clearly wanted to belong to the medical world. After returning to Gibraltar, she was successfully hired via the graduate scheme by the GHA to “contribute towards the national dementia strategy” in April 2012. Such a task would help local medical GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
services keep up with increasing cases of this complex illnesses. Meeting passionate and admirable people who wanted to create a better quality of life for people living with dementia in Gibraltar, became the catalyst for Sonal to pursue this as her career. Behind her sweet voice and bubbly nature, Sonal was in search of “a purpose and a challenge” to do something “on a deeper level” about dementia: this has led to her currently studying a PhD in Dementia with Queen Margaret Scotland University and the University of Gibraltar.
gets. She works directly with patients, takes medical histories (under a doctor´s supervision), writes discharge letters and monitors the prescription charts. Another a to-do task on her list is “following up with investigations and multi-disciplinary meetings”. Apart from this, she hones in on researching the behaviours of dementia patients once a week at the GHA’s memory clinic. To be precise, she is “keeping track of locals with dementia and looks into assessments tests for cognition, quality of life etc.” In other words, every aspect of this illness is under scrutiny to get a full understanding of it.
"I don’t feel like I chose to study dementia, but more like the subject chose me."
“I am very proud to say I am Gibraltar’s first Physician Associate who works at the GHA’s hospital ward.” This girl really is bursting with energy and passion for her job, never once complaining how busy the day
No doubt Gibraltar Alzheimer´s and Dementia society provides awareness on early detection of dementia and “enthusiasm for more local services”, but in Sonal’s case, she 41
health remembers realising what steps she wanted to take in contributing to this global, complex illness. “During the time that it took to gain the position for which I studied, I took an interest in research, especially in Alzheimer's and other kinds of dementia. The growing need for statistics and a greater depth of information was evident.” Her PhD in Dementia focuses on various strands: everything ranging from various stages of the illness, to the emotional, mental and physical burdens as a caregiver, quality of life and cognitive function. The research also incorporates “a national dementia audit”. Hours of studying and analysing data is all for the sole purpose to “bring about a solid foundation
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Around 400 people in Gibraltar have dementia. and database from which further dementia policies and instrumental tools on evidence basis” can provide a patient centred approach. According to Sonal’s findings, around 400 people in Gibraltar have dementia - yet statistics are done every 6 months to monitor the demographics. It gives the GHA an indication on how to prepare for a future with the growing number of dementia patients. Already her findings are analysing how dementia services
are working on the Rock, giving way to various ideas of what else can be done. With the Christmas season upon us, I take the opportunity to ask Sonal for advice on how family and friends can make this time enjoyable for loved ones with dementia. At times the hustle and bustle of the festivities can be stressful, making not only family members anxious, but carers too. Sometimes the atmosphere may overwhelm them she says, but the focus should be on creating an atmosphere of joy. “They might not know why they are happy or remember all the exact details, but they will be joyful; it’s just important to make them feel loved.”
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
scene
SCULPT
LIKE AN EGYPTIAN
The artistic year draws to a close with a mixed media exhibition at Guzmán el Bueno Castle in Tarifa, opening on the 15th and stretching across the last two weeks of December, bridging millennia of sculpture through old and new materials and styles.
BY ELENA SCIALTIEL
S
panish artist Francisco Javier Antolín Serrano, known in Gibraltar for his entries in recent International Art Exhibitions and for having presented a teaser of his El Taller del Transformista at the Museo Cruz Herrera in La Linea last October, claims that his collection is inspired by the art of ancient Egypt, and in particular by two of its most iconic sculptures, queen Nefertiti’s bust, and the freestanding effigy of scribe Ka’aper (Sheikh el-Beled) - and the evergreen actuality of the characters they embody. Francisco is fascinated by the Ka’aper, whom he calls ‘El Alcalde’, a 4,500-year old wooden statue unearthed in Saqqara necropolis, so well-preserved and so lifelike with his tanned complexion, round peaceful face and big vivacious eyes that one might be fooled into greeting it when passing by. The idea behind the exhibition is in fact sparked by this whim: Francisco imagines to bump into El Alcalde on a crowded train 44
or bus ride at rush hour: in the artist’s fantasy, the character is suited and booted to go to work – after all he is a scribe, which may translate nowadays into an accounting or admin job – wearing his eyes heavily highlighted in black eyeliner. This serendipitous encounter prompts Francisco’s musings on the character’s life beyond the static and hieratic beauty of the statue. So, he speculates about this man leading a double life as clerk by day and drag queen by night, and on this assumption Francisco builds his flagship installation, if
The exhibition is in fact sparked by this whim. not his entire exhibition, dedicated to El Transformista, and his private world in the shell of a dressing room where he gets ready for his
show, after having looked forward to it all day long. Francisco reconstructs the dressing room in painstaking detail, from the hangers where the protagonist’s suit sits elbow to elbow with costumes, wigs, feathered boas to the miniature masked musician playing the violin and wearing a bull’s skull. The life-size fibreglass and gesso white GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
art "The Spanish idiom ‘tener pluma’ means being or acting effeminate." pouncing at take-off. The exhibition continues with a segment dedicated to Nefertiti, brought to life as a freestanding jewel box with empty drawers, or as a classic bust aloof with her elongated feathered headdress, to assert majesty and femininity.
figure sits at the ornate dressing table, carved out of unpolished wood waiting to be made up into his night persona. The exhibition’s visitors are allowed to walk around the installation to appreciate it from all angles, and even reflect on their own reflection in a quirky mirror of truth. “I am not passing judgement on my muse’s sexuality,” Francisco points out, “in fact, I have no elements to confirm it, and it doesn’t matter to me. The entire concept behind El Trasformista - which partly, but not exactly, translates as drag queen - is based solely on the pretention of my following him around all day, fuelled by my curiosity about his make-up, and eventually ending up in his nightclub, where he can find his true voice as a singer, and spread his wings like a dragon. Actually, a female dragon, a dragona in Spanish, materialised in the pink sculpture that opens my exhibition.” The artist’s talent is best channelled in sculpture, although he doesn’t shun bi-dimensional GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
artwork, such as photography collages, to complement his sculpture and underscore its message. Having attended fine arts academies in Spain and overseas, Francisco has mastered the manipulation of metal, clay, stone, wood and fibreglass which he extensively mixes in his work to obtain a multi-layered effect, peppered with a sense of unfinished business, to project the imperfection and transiency of life. Past the pink dragon, the visitor will also meet an eagle and a Pegasus, echoing mythology and casting veiled references to the scribe’s double life: “The Spanish idiom ‘tener pluma’ - literally: having feathers - means being or acting effeminate,” Francisco explains. However the feathers bestow these animals the power of soaring and enjoying the bigger picture over mundane matters. Feathers are fashioned one by one out of rusted iron, to achieve the effect of an extraordinarily realistic eagle, while Pegasus’s body is only outlined by doodles to transmit the energy of its
A third bust stands on a cascade of breasts of ever-growing size that make it literally… busty, and brings to the fore the exceptional presence of female rulers throughout the centuries. Finally, the exhibition ends with an almost abstract rendition of Moses, the personage that in Francisco’s vision brings ancient Egyptian culture to a close: fashioned into a pillar of various materials, like steel, fibreglass, wood and stone, and worked in a frenzy of spikes and scales, reminiscent of Rococo landscaping, Moses’ bust sprouts from the ground like a clay giant, a desert creature, a pillar of sand, or, disturbingly, a termite’s nest. Francisco’s fans must rest assured that he’s got a few more aces up his sleeve for his next exhibition, inviting everyone to take a break from their Christmas shopping and enjoy his creativity that spans the width of Mediterranean millennia. For information, visit andalucia.org or CastilloGuzmanElBueno.com. For commissions, contact the artist on: fj.antolin.serrano@gmail.com. 45
OH YES I WILL! OH NO YOU WON'T!
Pulling back the curtains on the history of panto. BY PETER SCHIRMER "Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman.’" As the festive season gets under way, in the world’s English-speaking countries - and on stages varying from those of West End theatres to small village halls, a giant’s voice will thunder the ominous words. Jack – the ‘principal boy’, but actually a lissom female – will have climbed the magic beanstalk, and all will be set for him to lay his hands on the giant’s treasure. On other stages, either in rehearsals or early-season matinee performances, two ugly sisters and a horrid step-mother will make Cinderella’s life a misery (and the audience will wait for the arrival of the Prince and the vital slipper). Elsewhere, Sinbads will scrub the decks of magicallyshrouded ships and yearn for the heart of the beautiful Shireen. And somewhere, surely, Dick Whittington’s cat will persuade the ‘worthy citizen’ to ‘turn again’ on his fateful journey to become Lord Mayor of London; Aladdin will rub his magical lamp; and the slave-girl Morgiana will save Ali Baba’s bacon as he steals from the 46
40 robbers... For, across Britain, the Yuletide panto season is under way, bringing to the stage a well-worn host of fairy- and folk-tales, with a seasoning of figures from One Thousand and One Nights and semi-mythical characters of history. In our closer-knit Gibraltar – where ‘Christmas pleasures’ are synonymous with families gathering to eat, drink and exchange presents (though not necessarily in that order) rather than spending that time in a theatre – there’s little time for thespian effort until the final weeks of January, when the panto returns to the Ince’s Hall stage. For decades this home of the Trafalgar Theatre Group has staged the annual offering, in a centuries-old legacy of military and naval presence - when officers of both armed services performed at Christmastime to entertain their families and those of the ‘other ranks’.
For many children across the English-speaking world the panto is a seasonal ‘treat’, and anyone who has attended an Ince’s Hall production will attest to the enthusiasm as the young (and not-so-young) audience boo the villains of the piece and stamp feet so enthusiastically that it seems the rafters thunder. Although the modern pantomime takes its initial form from medieval mummers plays and the harlequinade of Italian commedia dell'arte, it is a quintessentially English entertainment, combining a melange of song, dance, topical jokes – with a lacing of double entendre – slapstick comedy, and crossdressing. And it has developed as a form of theatre in which the audience is encouraged to participate: to sing along with certain parts of the music, to boo and hiss the villains, or shout out certain stock phrases to the performers. Although, like other forms of theatre its true roots sprang from classical Greece and Rome, over the past 250 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
scene Like their forebears, the mummers’ plays and harlequinades, the earliest English pantos contained no dialogue – everything was represented through mime and dance. In the Middle Ages, the Mummers play was a traditional English folk play - usually performed during Christmas gatherings - based loosely on the legend of Saint George and the Dragon, and "containing the origin of many of the archetypal elements of the pantomime, such as stage fights, coarse humour, gender role reversal, and good defeating evil," according to the academic Hillary Baldwin.
years, the pantomime has evolved to become as vital to Britain’s Christmas traditions as department store Santas, the Oxford Street lights, crackers with cheap prizes, and mince pies. The traditions accompanied Britain’s colonial expansion. As well as the armed forces legacy on the Rock, there are records of pantos performed in the original Australian penal colony at Botany Bay, and, during the Boer War siege of Mafeking, Baden Powell helped stage Cinderella. ‘Mother Goose’, ‘Puss in Boots’, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, and ‘Babes in the Wood’ are other favourites. And on the Rock the first pantomimes were staged by the Dockyard and Navy Players – precursors of today’s Trafalgar thespians. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
The first Greek παντόμιμος (pantomimes) were performed by a single dancer representing all the roles of the ritual. And though she – for the ‘mimos’ was usually a priestess – was later accompanied by a chorus, everything was in silent mime... as were the earliest English pantomimes. When the Romans developed their pantomimus as a spectacle, they introduced the use of the classic Greek masks of Tragedy and Comedy, and though initially performed by a solo male dancer clad he was accompanied by a sung accompanied by a sung chorus. But mime remained at the core of productions, and because of this pantomime’s popularity spread across the Roman empire for it overcome the multilingual language barrier.
At the heart of every production is the ‘dame’ whose roots are in the earliest theatre, when girls and young women were played by youths, and old women by men - often comically. Probably the most famous of these ‘dames’ is Widow Twankey who made her/ his first appearance in a London production of Aladdin more than 150 years ago and was a comic resurrection of Mrs Noah of the medieval miracle plays. Even when - in the 17th century after the restoration of the monarchy - actresses entered the theatre, most were reluctant to play older parts, and the convention continued. And this cross-gender tradition also leads to the role of the hero (or ‘principal boy’) being played by an attractive young woman. CUE to audience: wolf whistles... and probably the only time that these would not be dubbed ‘offensively sexist’. 47
art
FROM DISCARDED SHARDS TO MERMAIDS’ TEARS Frozen drops of deep ocean or Mediterranean turquoise sea, bezel-set in sterling silver, each unique in sourcing and shaping, handmade in Gibraltar by a certified jeweller, are one of the latest objets d’art available at the Arts & Crafts Shop in Casemates and at the Cruise Terminal. BY ELENA SCIALTIEL
J
ewellery maker Frances May-Murphy joined the association recently, as part of a recruiting drive to afford exposure to more artisans with locals and tourists alike. Her trademarked Silver Quirk shop is a line of contemporary jewellery that elevates up-cycling to artistry. “I trained in traditional metalsmithing techniques in London when I was coming up to retirement age,” Frances says. “Smithing was something I’d always aspired to do, but it was put on hold while life happened.” Eventually, she married her passion for manipulating metal with her lifelong fascination for sea glass, and so her elegant and original pendant, bracelet, and ring designs were born. “I grew up in Scotland, at the 48
seaside. As children, we spent a lot of time on the beach after a storm, picking sea glass for my mum’s collection. A few years ago, I visited my sister in Canada
Frances turns archaeological debris, smithereens of history, into wearable art featuring a tiny fragment of Gibraltar’s heritage. and we reminisced about those days, while scouring her local beaches for glass,” she says. “I
brought back to Europe a big bag of sea glass, wondering how I could use it for decorating.” A few pieces had a jewel-quality about them, and she decided to make them into pendants, for herself or as gifts at first. She was so successful that she went for an online business on Etsy, which nowadays allows her to ship her artwork worldwide - all crafted with Gibraltar sourced sea glass. Frances views sea glass, although manmade, as the gem that nature returns to us after decades, if not centuries, of tumbling in the waves and in the sand, losing transparency and jagged edges, but acquiring coarse texture, which makes it tactile, as well as play with the light in a sophisticated glow. Upgraded from discarded shards to ‘mermaids’ tears’, Frances turns GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
art
"I am up-cycling the rubbish tossed in the sea a long time ago." archaeological debris, smithereens of history, into wearable art featuring a tiny fragment of Gibraltar’s heritage. “I like to think that I am up-cycling the rubbish tossed in the sea a long time ago, that’s why locations like the northern end of Eastern Beach, which have been densely and consistently populated, are ideal for collecting material,” she explains. The trained eye can spot several good pieces there during a wintry stroll, after a spell of choppy seas. Green, yellow-brown and GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
seafoam, a greenish off-white, are the most common colours, but she’s always on the lookout for bright white, turquoise, blue, grey and even black. Every colour has got its individual story: most glass was originally clear, but sea-tumbling might have turned it azure or aqua. Indeed, pure white pieces are quite rare and spellbinding when found, because they concoct images of solidified moonlight, when in fact they are scraps of windows or household items, while brown pieces, sometimes tumbled into a glowing yellow tinge, might come from beer or spirits containers. Cobalt blue, a deep indigo, is very rare locally, particularly in sizeable pieces, and when Frances finds a suitable one, consistent in colour and wear ‘n’ tear, it always feels special, because she can feature it as the centrepiece of designer pendants, while smaller ones make perfect rings. Its rough
surface reflects daylight to make it look like a starry midnight sky, or reminds of the inside crystal from a geode. “It is popularly believed that cobalt blue glass was reserved for small flacons and jars destined to chemists, if not alchemists, so it has a bit of a reputation for having been the receptacle of some sort of poison, although most probably it was medication,” Frances muses, adding fascination to an already mesmeric colour. No two pieces of sea glass are the same, and because our Gibraltar beaches provide a relatively limited supply of glass, Frances’s ability to craft earrings is limited too. However, once she found two small-ish, round-ish drops of a pearly grey tinge, not dissimilar to moonstone, which matched in shape and weight, so she mounted them in clean-lined pendants, featuring her signature 49
scene Hammering is another forte for this energetic adopted Gibraltarian who started her career as a French literature graduate working in a bank in the City of London, to later re-train as counsellor and work for the GHA in Gibraltar before switching to private practice; now in retirement
A final polish and it’s done.
silver ‘bubbles’, to perfectly balance them out and make them symmetrical in framing the face. Most mermaids’ tears are too large for earrings, but are ideal for statement-piece pendants or bracelets, definitely not for the wallflower. Not all findings are of jewel-quality, if you will, as they must match strict criteria of translucency, luminosity, texture, roundedness and flatness, at least on one side, or else they aren’t suitable to being bezel-set. Frances sets her pieces exactly as she finds them, after cleansing them from grime, because it isn’t advisable to split them in half, as this would compromise their refraction and would expose sharp edges and inside transparency. Naturally-occurring irregular profiles add charm to her… charms, while challenging her smithing skills. Starting with a reasonably flat-backed piece, Frances cuts 50
out a roughly matching shape slightly larger than the glass from a sheet of sterling silver, to create the back of the bezel, which sometimes she stamps with starfish outlines, to add to the ocean theme. “I use a small jeweller’s torch to solder it to a strip of fine silver to make the frame of the bezel. I file, sand, and polish the empty case, add the bail and sometimes a few little bubbles - tiny balls of silver made by melting down scrap. Lastly, I set the piece of sea glass in it by pushing and bending the fine silver around the glass to keep it secure. A final polish and it’s done.” Frances is quite popular with her customers for her wavy bangle she calls the ‘Forged Wave Bangle’, with or without glass or semiprecious stones set in it. This is one of her best sellers at the Arts & Crafts shop, together with pendants and earring studs inspired by ocean and flora.
she’s been able to realise her long-held dream of smithing, the ancient noble art which requires technique and ingenuity in having a vision of the final product when staring at the piece of metal, and working towards making it tangible and tactile. This materialises beautifully in her trademark olive tree (or perhaps citronella?) leaf pendant earrings, which start their life as a strip of silver and are hammered and tweaked into a dynamic silhouette. “I make one pair at the time, and they seem to turn out satisfactorily symmetrical, but when I move on to the next pair, even if I am aiming for the same style, their contour will always be slightly different to the previous pairs - and unique.” Silver Quirk handmade jewellery is available at the Arts & Crafts shop in Casemates, as well as locally and worldwide from SilverQuirk. Etsy.com. Like SilverQuirkGibraltar on Facebook to keep updated on latest creations. Every purchase will make you the owner of a reasonably prized unique item. Commissions accepted on fmmsilverquirk@gmail. com. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
+35 0 200 674 69 • info@ifai.gi • www.ifai.gi
For more information visit our website: www.ifai.gi
Authorised in Gibraltar via EEA rules & regulations
Pension & Investments Specialist
Thinking outside of the box… Andy Caddick Managing DIrector
2019
IN PICTURES
BOOKISH... 6 books you'll love - Part II. BY JOEL FRANCIS
C
hoosing the right book can be a difficult task. Going into a bookshop (well in Gibraltar’s case, Amazon or Book Depository because they closed all the bookshops - still sour about it, don’t @ me) can be daunting if you don’t have a specific read in mind. I find it much easier to go in with a list, usually from year-end book
lists or friends’ recommendations, which allows me to broaden my horizons when it comes to genres I would usually avoid. With this in mind, here is a curated selection of books from a spectrum of genres and styles that I’ve enjoyed this year… you never know, one of them might become your new favourite!
DARK MATTER Blake Crouch
Genre: Hard Science Fiction What’s in the pages? Jason is walking to his Chicago home to his wife and son one night when he is kidnapped at gunpoint by a masked man. He loses consciousness and awakes in a lab with a man he’s never seen before welcoming him back. Jason has woken up in a world here his house is not his house, his wife is not his wife and his son was never born. Worst of all… he’s being hunted! Why should you read it? I know that synopsis doesn’t tell you that much about this book, but it’s really hard to talk about the plot without spoiling it. So instead I’m going to say this: Just Read This Book. Dark Matter is seriously one of the best books I’ve ever read - and one of the few that I read in one sitting. It’s a compelling read about family, love, and the fear of losing it all. This book will keep you gripped from the first word until the very last, and will more than likely stay in your mind long afterwards. Even if science fiction is not your thing, I would recommend this book. It’s similar to The Martian, Arrival & Interstellar, but those comparisons really don’t do this book justice when Dark Matter stands very much on its own merit and originality. Crouch shows off his chops for intelligent, mesmerising, beautiful & thought-provoking writing in this book, and I am still to come across anyone who disliked it.
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
THE POET X
Elizabeth Acevedo Genre: Young Adult / Poetry / Contemporary Fiction What’s in the pages? Xiomara Batista lives in Harlem and is unheard but unable to hide. She doesn’t talk much, instead she lets her fighting do the talking. But Xiomara has secrets, she keeps them in a notebook. One of the secrets is she’s fallen for a boy called Aman. Her super religious Mami would never understand, so she keeps her reality a deep dark secret - however, this will all change. When she’s invited to participate in her school’s slam poetry club, although she risks Mami finding out, she knows she has to perform in order to survive. Why should you read it? This book was all up in my feelings, it’s a rollercoaster ride of air punching triumph and heartwrenching defeat. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it and I was not expecting such brilliance when approaching this novel. Don’t let the Young Adult tag fool you, this book is for everyone. It’s the underdog tale at its finest, setting you smack bang in the middle of Harlem it really allows you to live within the mind of a teenage girl coming to terms with her body, her sexuality and finding her voice through a supremely underrated (in my opinion) art form: slam poetry. As someone who has attended a lot of spoken word events while at university, the truth is, a large majority of it can come off as self-important, preachy and somewhat narcissistic. However, Acevedo’s writing is none of that - she’s a master of her craft and a top tier writer. Very rarely have I felt such gut-wrenching fear for a character as I did when reading this book. It’s a superb example of world building and character arc design I wish I could see more of in Young Adult novels.
WHY I’M NO LONGER TALKING TO WHITE PEOPLE ABOUT RACE Reni Eddo-Lodge
Genre: Non-Fiction / Politics What’s in the pages? Reni Eddo-Lodge was frustrated about how the discussions of race and racism were being led by those who were not affected by it. She decided to write a blog post called “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race”. Three years later, this book was born. Looking at issues including the whitewashing of history and feminism to white dominance and the link between class and race, Eddo-Lodge offers a framework for how to approach racism in Britain in the later 2010’s.
Why should you read it? The irony of this recommendation is that Reni Eddo-Lodge actually ended up talking to a white person about race, and I am extremely glad that she did. This book is broken up into seven chapters, each approaching a different aspect of racism in Britain in a unique chronology. It provides a unique look into hidden histories of Britain and the dirty secrets of an empire that reinvented its face, while never really changing its soul. I learned a lot about the erased history of racism in Britain and beyond in this accessible take on an otherwise complicated, vast subject. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race left me wanting to find out more about the politics and race relations within Britain while also making me face up to certain aspects of white privilege I was otherwise unaware of. For more book recommendations follow Joel’s Instagram @neurodiversebookworm. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
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literature
THE FAULT IN GIBRALTAR
Kitty Sewell presents cliffhanging thriller based in Gibraltar. BY ELENA SCIALTIEL
‘Y
oung prodigy civil engineer Sebastian Luna unveils urban development on cantilevered shelf hovering above Med Sea to the south-east side of the Rock’: this isn’t (yet!) tomorrow’s bold headline in the local media, but the main plot of the latest novel set in Gibraltar, published by Swedish-BritishCanadian authoress Kitty Sewell and recently launched at the Gibunco Literary Festival.
who is twice her age, and also happens to be a vociferous opponent to Sebastian’s ‘almost floating city’.
Her fourth thriller, and her first set in Gibraltar, this page-turner drills its foundations in local current affairs and heritage, as well as the dynamic tension in the private life of the main characters. The restless protagonist is torn between his ambitious vision of a bridge propped on the Pillars of Hercules to reunite Europe and Africa, his oceanic love for Eva, the mermaid-haired American diving instructor who is not just who she says she is, and Imogen, his rebel teenage sister with writing ambitions of her own, who becomes entangled in an ambiguous relationship with the downstairs neighbour, a defrocked priest and tunnels’ tour guide,
Kitty got inspiration for The Fault when she spent a few weeks in Gibraltar a few years ago, and was invited to visit the caves, the tunnels, the Lower St. Michael’s Cave, and even went pot-holing “climbing, abseiling and crawling in virtual darkness”.
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Throw in a violent death, a mysterious but attractive young Moroccan illegal alien, who claims to be ‘owned’ by the victim, claustrophobic trips to the very bowels of the limestone monolith, and you have all the flavours for a cliffhanger – literally.
As an outsider, she is able to notice the darker and mysterious side of local folklore, and actually peppers her narrative with anecdotes and facts borrowed from Gibraltar history, particularly about ghosts, who populate the protagonists’ life, including the ‘fresh’ one of an elderly lady found hanged in the very apartment the trio is renting.
The primeval sheer cliff on the eastern side made Kitty wonder how progress could make good use of it from a real estate point of view, so the idea of a ‘cantilevered shelf’ was born. To add credibility to Sebastian’s blueprints, Kitty sought advice from actual structural engineers, to enquire if such technology could hold: the reply was that it hadn’t been done yet, but it could be done, making her idea sci-fi rather than fantasy. “When I started researching this GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
literature novel, Gorham’s Cave complex hadn’t yet been declared UNESCO heritage site, so my plot is almost prophetical when it describes the project being halted during a high-profile public meeting, citing concerns of geological and historical nature” Kitty says. However, the plot is not only about the polarised public opinion, divided between business opportunity and natural landscape preservation, but mostly about exploring the boundaries between genius and madness, and how mental health, a dysfunctional family and dealing with rejection and bereavement affect the siblings, and their relationship with Eva – or should I say Chantelle? Having practised as a psychotherapist in Wales, Kitty channels her experience in building all her characters and excavating their inner thoughts, compulsions and drive. Actually, she pioneered the topic of gender dysphoria twenty-five years ago when she published with Raymond Thompson What Took You So Long? A Girl’s Journey to Manhood, recounting the story of the first known transgender man. “The sessions were cathartic for him, but the message we should get from his story is that one must be prepared to work hard to achieve what one really wants: this man was from a small Welsh village and was misunderstood, isolated and humiliated into resorting to drugs and crime, until he met a consultant who agreed to help him, under the condition he cleaned up and became a functioning member of society.” Kitty describes herself as a late starter in fiction, but what an ice-breaking debut it was! Inspired GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
by real events in her and her husband’s life in sub-Arctic Canada, where she practised as notary public, Ice Trap was written in English and translated into fourteen languages. “It is acknowledged that there are only seven plots in literature, and every book ever written is nothing but a permutation of one or more of them, but I believe that ‘Ice Trap’ doesn’t fall neatly in any of them!” Kitty says. Wilderness, darkness, icy landscapes, wolves and polar bears are guaranteed to run an extra chill down your spine, while reading about a married man who receives a letter from a fourteenyear old girl claiming to be his daughter and has to confront his wife, the girl and her ‘psycho’ mother. To defrost, you may want to follow up with Bloodprint, set in the Florida Keys, and if you love altitude with attitude, go for Cloud Fever, set in Tibet.
She pioneered the topic of gender dysphoria. Departing from her familiar genre, she also published under her maiden name Kitty Harri, a poignant historical novel about the Spanish Civil War, Hector’s Talent for Miracles, about pilgrimage town of Torre de Burros’s own social outcast, whom she describes as “a man I knew, modelled from dark forces”.
the Canary Islands where she attended German school, Kitty is a multi-talented professional and award-winning artist with a counsellor diploma, and degrees in law, applied sculpture and creative writing under her belt. She currently lives near Granada where she runs a ‘sculpture garden’ which is fast becoming a top tourist attraction in the area, with 10,000 visitors since its inception. “I started planting all kind of trees in the plot of land around my property, and it turned into a botanical garden. Later, I placed my sculptures in it and opened it to the public. Soon, sculptures donated by other artists were added and nowadays 160 pieces, mostly carved stone, are on display; often on opening days, my partner, who is a musician, gathers his friends and they play live classical music to our visitors.” For more information visit KittySewell.com and KittyHarri.com.
Born in Sweden and raised in 57
How to decorate your home in time for the festive season.
leisure
DECK THE HALLS BY KRISTEL COOMBES
A
s an interior designer, my thoughts naturally turn to Christmas decorations as the festive season approaches. Some of you may still have paper ghosts stuck to your windows and others may have wheeled out the Christmas tree as soon as the bonfire embers faded. Nonetheless, whether you are planning a traditional festive season full of red, green and gold, or prefer something a little more contemporary, I hope the following collections inspire spaces full of seasonal warmth and colour. A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS This theme evokes the warmth and elegance of traditional interior design, establishing itself as the most iconic Christmas dĂŠcor theme. Classic shades of red and green give this style a nostalgic feel. When choosing lanterns, pillar and votive candles opt for a tonal bronze or gold, as this elevates the room using the festive contrast of the metallics. It is important that greenery be brought into the home and strewn across your surfaces, ensuring a GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
natural, light and fresh ambience across your spaces. In the time leading up to Christmas morning, the gifts under your tree act as functional decorations. When purchasing wrapping paper that coordinates with your colour scheme, I suggest selecting at least two different wrapping paper rolls and various different ribbon spools. Your Christmas tree should be proportional to the size of the room, yet still significant and impactful. Whether faux or natural, try and look for fuller trees and wreaths that can be adorned with both store bought and homemade ornaments. I recommend the use of heavy, ornate fabrics when purchasing stockings or throw pillows to decorate. Although these are small decorative accessories, they will shape the atmosphere within the room.
Your Christmas tree should be significant and impactful. white tableware, gold flatware and fluted wine glasses to add an air of elegance. Small homemade gingerbread cookies attached to velvet ribbon name tags could be used to give each place setting that extra special Christmas flair.
The stunning table centrepiece featured below includes eucalyptus greens, pomegranates and gold ornaments for festive colour. To achieve a similar look, adorn your dining table with neutral linens, use simple brushed 59
leisure
A WOODLAND CHRISTMAS
glittering ornaments.
The Woodland Christmas theme is timeless, bringing nature indoors with fresh greenery and garlands winding through each room. Earthly tonalities, blush and browns dominate the color palette. This year is all about creating a natural and organic look.
The collection of woodland ornaments will no doubt infuse all the wonderment of an enchanting winter forest into your home, whilst the flocked foliage, crisp white tones and metallic accents embody the glistening of falling snow. You can also depict a fresh snowfall by placing a sheepskin rug below your Christmas tree!
In order to capture the most breath-taking imagery of winter within your homes, no more than three different colours should be integrated into the space. Opt for rustic elements like wicker wreaths and wooden holiday signage. Textured fabrics and decorative throw pillows will add softness and elevate the overall luxe effect. For added sparkle, drape some festive green garland across the handrail of a staircase, and anchor it down with some 60
The exquisite tablescape featured in this theme captures the elegance of the season with fresh evergreen garlands, wood stump chargers, crisp white linens, and pine cones. This chic, organic look is wintry perfection. A VINTAGE CHRISTMAS This theme features a touch of nostalgia and a dash of cheer as you reminisce Christmas past with
vintage inspired dĂŠcor. In order to accomplish an effortless, oldworld Christmas look, you must turn everyday vintage finds into holiday dĂŠcor standouts. There is no need to repurchase your christmas decorations every year. Decorating with a variety of themed ornaments adds a personalised touch that standard matching ornaments cannot compete with. Be creative and you'll find that there are a few different ways to decorate your home with these ornaments. Besides hanging them on the tree, you can put them in small vases or empty lanterns, create an ornament wreath, or use them to make a centerpiece for all your Christmas meals. Each unique ornament will tell a story and become a great conversational piece during the holiday gatherings. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
leisure
and forest green are in trend this Christmas. Embrace the minimal way of life and scale back this season.
A MINIMAL CHRISTMAS Holiday cheer can come in small doses but still make a big impact. The mantra ‘less is more’ takes a new life here – simple and elegant, reductionist and light. Use these understated Christmas decorations to bring some simple Christmas cheer into your homes.
voila! A stripped-down Christmas tree, paired with a simple faux fur throw creates a distinctly modern feel within the room. Draping garland across a window, grouping pillar candles together on a metallic dish or throwing some ornaments into a large bowl are also simple ways to create a minimal, laid back environment.
For those of you tired of splurging on a full size Christmas tree every year, skip the big tree. Using only the tip of a pine tree, place it in a clear vase with a little water and
The use of bold colours across minimalist spaces, serves as compensation for the simplicity of the décor. The use of deep burgundy, dark blue, grey, brown
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
Choosing your theme may be difficult when deciding what you would like to showcase in your homes this Christmas. Are you a traditionalist or do you like a modern flair? Is there a special ornament or sentimental item that you can use to develop a concept? Think about colours, shapes, symbols, patterns, or even a style of mood that could shape your theme. A sage piece of advice: “Whatever your taste may be, one thing is certain, Christmas is the time, in the matter of decoration, to let the fancy roam, to be incentive, creative, light-hearted and unafraid.” Happy decorating! 61
beauty
CONFESSIONS OF A BEAUTY ADDICT
The joy of gifting. BY ALEX ORFILA
O
h December, the month which brings with it bundles of joy, celebration, over-eating and the ever so slightly stressful activity of gifting. For me the first day of December (or November if you’re super organised… which I most certainly am not) feels like I’m on a racing track waiting for an imaginary whistle to blow and signal that I can commence my frantic search for many perfect gifts. A search which often culminates in a nerve-racking Christmas eve, still trawling main street for some desperate inspiration. Gifting is a task which can seem rather daunting; shops are festooned with lavish goods and the media is constantly forcefeeding us festive advertising inviting us to spend, so why is it that we still struggle with finding what to buy?
ABOVE: ELEMIS BEAUTY SLEEP TRIO GIFT SET, £45 BELOW: MEN’S GROOMING ON THE GO GIFT SET, £55
It’s hard to strike a balance as you strive to buy something that someone will truly love, so what are your options? Anything clothing related can be awkward, it’s much too personal and there’s also the whole ‘sizing’ issue to consider. Vouchers are a good shout but can feel a little last minute and unimaginative. We are then left with the predictable but albeit ‘safe’, functional gifts like socks and pyjamas – but there’s only so many times you can get 62
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
beauty There’s only so many times you can get away with buying those. away with buying those for a loved one. I may be biased but often when I find myself in this type of pickle I (perhaps rather predictably) turn to beauty-related gifts! What makes beauty gifts all the more appealing is that there are many brands releasing gift sets specifically for the festive period. These not only make fabulous gifts but they also present a great opportunity to stock up on products as limited-edition sets are released. These are invitingly gorgeous – usually in luxe packaging – but often
also represent great value and prove much cheaper than what it would cost you to by each individual product on the high street. Do you not have time to trawl through countless beauty websites and cosmetic stores for inspiration? Fret not, I’ve done plenty of the research to help you navigate this crowded space and compiled a list of delightful giftsets from some of my favourite brands – all of which happen to be conveniently available locally.
ELEMIS This is a British Spa brand whose mantra is blending nature and science, by extracting the best natural ingredients for a truly effective skincare regime. Elemis lets you bring a little piece of BELOW: THE RITUAL OF HAPPY BUDDHA, ENERGISING COLLECTION, £39.90
spa wellness home with you with its skincare, body and home selection. Buying skincare products for others can be a bit complicated if you are not familiar with their skin type or preferred routine – so try and do some research beforehand or stick to gentle formulas which will agree with most skin types. Elemis Beauty Sleep Trio Gift Set £45 (worth £69.95) includes: Gentle Foaming Face Wash 150ml (full size), Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules 14x2ml, Peptide4 Thousand Flower Face Mask 40ml, Cleansing Cloth. Men’s Grooming on the Go Gift Set £55 (worth £71.50) includes: Skin Soothe Shave Gel 100ml, Deep Cleanse Face Wash 50ml, Daily Moisture Boost 50ml, Active Hair and Body Wash 100ml, Travel wash Bag.
RITUALS Rituals mantra is that happiness can be found in the smallest of things, reminding us to focus on the simple joys of each moment which are often overlooked (especially when caught in the frantic daze of Christmas shopping). Their range of uplifting and invigorating products for body and home will make the perfect gift for those who wish to indulge in a little self-care this season. The Ritual of Dao, Calming Ritual £29.90 includes: Candle, foaming shower foam, body cream, body scrub. The Ritual of Happy Buddha, Energising Collection: Mini home fragrance diffuser, foaming
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63
beauty blends scents of aged brandy, cardamom, orange and ginger, the set includes: 300ml Bizarre Brandy Bath & shower Gel, 70ml Festive Bauble.
DIPTYQUE This fabulous French perfumer is perfect for those who are looking for something luxe, cool and a little less mainstream. It’s true that perfume can be a somewhat personal gift, however Diptyque’s selection of minis solves this problem by creating the perfect opportunity to sample their unique scents – most of which are also available in candle form. Did someone say a box full of tiny opulent French perfumes? This will always have a place on my Christmas list!
ABOVE: THE RITUAL OF DAO, CALMING RITUAL, £29.90
shower gel, body cream, shower scrub.
MOLTON BROWN A household name when it comes to plush bath and body products. This British brand has been at the forefront of concocting the most beautiful scents since the early 1970s. Taking inspiration from far flung destinations as well as from British gardens they bring you both the exotic and traditional. There is no way a gift from these masters of luxury body care will disappoint.
Diptyque Eau de Parfum 5x7ml Discovery Fragrance Gift Set £88 includes: Fleur de Peau, Do Son, L’Ombre Dans L’Eau, Tam Dao, Minthe.
ABOVE: BIZARRE BRANDY FESTIVE BAUBLE SET, £38
BELOW: STOCKING FILLER GIFT SET 10X50ML BATH AND SHOWER MINIS, £40
Stocking Filler Gift Set 10x50ml bath and shower minis including a selection of classic scents: Orange & Bergamot, Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel, Vetiver & Grapefruit, Suede Orris, Fiery Pink Pepper, Rosa Absolute, Geranium Nefertum, Re-chare black Pepper, Tobacco Absolute, Russian Leather. Bizarre Brandy Festive Bauble Set 64
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
beauty lipsticks in the following shades: Ginger Snap, Currant Affair, Smoothie Move, Mango Move. Luxe Gems Eye Shadow Palette containing seven eyeshadows in festive jewel tones £59. Rituals, Molton Brown, Diptyque and Bobbi Brown available from various SM Seruya stores. Elemis products available from Atlantic Suites Spa and Sunborn Spa.
BELOW: MAJOR CRUSH LIQUID LIP SET, £40 BOTTOM: LUXE GEMS EYE SHADOW PALETTE, £50
ABOVE: DIPTYQUE EAU DE PARFUM 5X7ML DISCOVERY FRAGRANCE GIFT SET, £88
This will always have a place on my Christmas list! BOBBI BROWN A gift from Bobbi Brown will no doubt be on the lists of makeup lovers anywhere. When gifting makeup keep it fun and informal – stay away from foundations, powders or anything too specific to one’s skin tone. Shimmery eyeshadow palettes inspired by the festive season are a must and a selection of lip sticks in luscious shades are the perfect finishing touch to any Christmas party outfit. Major Crush Liquid Lip Set £40 (worth £76) includes four fill size GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
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health
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY
“I don’t want to talk to the others in my group. I get lost in the middle of what I’m saying and it’s embarrassing.” “Sometimes I listen, but sometimes it blurs out of place so I think about what I am going to do at the weekend.” “When I talk people look at me as if I am stupid.” (Cole, 2004) BY THE GHA SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY TEAM
T
he above are common experiences of children and young people with speech and language difficulties. Speech and language therapy can make a difference to their lives. As many as 1 in 10 children or young people may need the services of a speech and language therapist. Speech and language therapists enable children to develop important communication and swallowing skills. For some this may mean a few weeks of work, others may need long-term help. There is a growing awareness of the impact of speech, language and communication needs and that therapy can be effective. As a result, children are being referred at an increasingly young age, often before their second birthday. Children are referred because of 66
a range of concerns: Parents may worry that their children are not saying many words or they do not seem to understand instructions. Parents may also notice that their children cannot get their words out, their sentences are muddled, or they have trouble saying the sounds in words. Any of these difficulties may cause the child frustration and it is worth seeking the advice of a speech and language therapist. Speech and language difficulties can be the result of a number of conditions including autistic spectrum disorder, cleft palate, deafness, developmental language disorder, feeding difficulties, stammering or a voice disorder. Problems with speech and language can impact on children’s access to the school curriculum, and can create a barrier to functioning in everyday activities
in the home and community. Research has also shown that children with unresolved communication difficulties are at risk of mental health difficulties, relationships and employment prospects in later life. Much of what a speech therapist does is based on what happens in typical language development. We believe that language development depends on strong foundations. The child needs to learn to look, listen, and take turns in a conversation - from these foundations the child will learn to use single words and with time join words in longer utterances. As the child’s vocabulary expands they learn to use words with more accurate speech sounds. By the age of 4, most children are competent communicators. They may make a few mistakes but they can hold conversations with those GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
health appointment if they have concerns about their child’s speech and language development, although it is advised that they first talk over their concerns with their GP, health visitor or the child’s teacher. If, after assessment, therapy is recommended, it may be offered in groups or as individual appointments. In both cases we try to work closely with parents who are the people who spend most time with the child. Sometimes parents can join children in the sessions or they are given ideas for activities that they can carry out at home to practice new skills.
Therapy sessions are something that the child should look forward to.
Children with unresolved communication difficulties are at risk of mental health difficulties. GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
around them to talk about recent experiences, make jokes, ask questions and make their needs known. The team of paediatric speech and language therapists (SLTs) in Gibraltar is based in a new suite of clinics at the Children’s Health Centre. There is an ‘open’ referral system, so parents can request an
Therapy sessions are something that the child should look forward to, so for the younger children, therapy is based around the use of carefully selected and ageappropriate toys and games. With older children we aim to make therapy functional and base the sessions around their interests. We also believe that language is best learned when the child is having fun. Speech and language therapy is an effective intervention in supporting all children with communication difficulties, however the benefits extend beyond speech and language gains and include improvements in social skills, peer relationships, self-confidence and access to learning. 67
Dog sledding in Rovaniemi, Finland
travel
FESTIVE FINLAND
December: Cold sweeps into our lives from across the Bay, establishing itself as a semipermanent resident for the month. The minutes of daylight wither away with each rotation of the earth, and the wind and the rain offer accompaniment to the darkness. Yet, the mood among the people rises as the month progresses. We are battle-ready with our coats, umbrellas, and sparkling, coloured lights. Nothing can dampen our spirits over this festive period. It’s Christmas.
BY CHRIS HEDLEY
O
n the off-chance that the presence of Christmas is not enough to keep you in high spirits throughout December, you might want to consider a week away. The southern hemisphere is too far to go chasing the heat, so go north and embrace the season. Rain turns to snow and the lights arrive to illuminate the darkness, not from electricity, but from the sky in the form of aurora borealis. The festivities are even more palpable here, after all you are in Santa’s homeland. Not the North Pole. The other one. A couple of things to note before you embark on a trip to Finland in the winter time: Firstly, it’s cold. Not the Gibraltarian ‘cold that gets to your bones’ that your grandmother warned you about. Actually cold. Secondly, it’s dark. If you nip above the Arctic Circle you won’t see the sun at all, and even in the south it struggles in its
plight to climb above the rooftops before giving up after a couple of hours and taking refuge beyond the horizon. Just embrace these factors as a novel experience, safe in the knowledge you won’t have to endure them for a full winter. It’s part of the fun. Capital cities are the standard starting point for any trip, but Helsinki in the winter can often be caught in the grey area between winter wonderland and frozen netherworld. To make the most of it, catch a proper Christmas market in the aptly named Market Square or slap on some snowshoes and take a trek out of the city with one of the local companies. When it all becomes too much, you can strip off and get your first taste of a Finnish sauna, of which there are many dotted about the city. Take a day to walk around and absorb all the sights you might expect to see in a capital: churches, monuments and whatnot, but let’s be honest,
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
Suomenlinna, commonly referred to as ‘The Gibraltar of the North’. you’ve come here to soak up nature in all its wintry glory, so you’ll want to be heading north soon. Before you skate away from the sun, it would be rude (and inadvisable) to miss out on a trip to Suomenlinna, commonly referred to as ‘The Gibraltar of the North’. Once a great island fortress, the area serves mostly as a tourist destination stuck in old times with few new buildings or cars in sight. Nice for a picnic in the summer, better to stick to the cafes in the winter. A trip to the east provides a contrasting view of what you might expect to find in other Nordic countries; a sprawling 69
travel
mass of lakes and rolling hills makes for a scenic change from the rugged mountains that Finland’s neighbours are famous for. Choose from a plethora of lakeside resorts and spend your days building snowmen until your fingers turn blue, before retreating to the, now familiar, sauna. Indulge in something that, until recently, was only undertaken by the older generation; ice dipping is having somewhat of a renaissance, with the youth of today considering the act more of a kick start to the day rather than a display of machismo. After a few minutes of tentative toe dipping, you’ll realise the time for now or never has arrived. The icy water encompasses all as breath is robbed from your lungs and the feeling in your legs momentarily vanishes, but upon exit, your circulation pumps back into action and you begin to feel a new lease of life, ready for the day ahead. An activity quite literally not for the faint hearted... For a more traditional winter day 70
An activity quite literally not for the faint hearted... out, head to the Koli National Park, where there are a couple of ski resorts to get the heat back in you again after your questionable decision to jump in a Finnish lake in mid-winter. What were you thinking? The slopes offer panoramic views beyond the snow-capped woodland pines and over lake Pielinen. Now you’ve spent a few days here, a week maybe - you’ve seen Helsinki and the other Gibraltar, you’ve been to see some lakes and wilderness - but think back to why you came. Of course. You’ve been so stupid to delay this any further. It’s time to visit a land of beauty, where dreams are born, a land exploited by consumerism, a land
offering its name as an easy way out for a winter-themed strip club manager looking to rebrand. Lapland, bereft of architectural history thanks to the punishment of switching sides during WWII, has tourists flocking to the area year-round. If you’re driving up here, you’ll want to take all the necessary precautions associated with ice and snow, but there’s one more thing standing between you and your destination. Officially a bilingual country (Finnish and Swedish) road signs and street names, unlike in the south and west of the country, almost always appear in Finnish only. Despite this, Google Maps likes to flip a virtual coin as to which language to use, so look up both names, or you may as well throw your smartphone out of the window. Rovaniemi is the number one place on everyone’s list. Speaking of lists, this is the stop to get to Santa Claus Village, hosting GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
travel Rent glass-roofed pods and watch the sky light up all night long. Santa’s official post office, bustling with angry five-year-olds enquiring as to the whereabouts of their Tamagotchi. There are other things to do here, such as take the kids sledding, and at this time of year there are beautifully lit ice sculptures all over the village. You’ll also finally have the opportunity to meet the real Father Christmas to reignite a belief you may have lost along the way. Stereotypical arctic activities are available from here: ice fishing, taking a ride on a snowmobile or husky sleigh etc. But, unless you are there for Christmas Eve/Day (presumably they are busy over this period) you can ride in a sleigh pulled along by Dasher and Vixen themselves. As a day trip, or longer if you’d prefer, you can visit Kemi, which hosts the world’s largest snowcastle. You can walk around the structure, complete with restaurant, hotel, and ice art exhibitions. If you can’t think of a more romantic setting, there’s even an ice chapel where you can bind yourself to your significant other for life. The other reason to visit Kemi is to undertake the unique opportunity to smash through the sea ice on a polar exploration experience. If you passed up the previous opportunity to dip your naked body into the water of a frozen lake, you are now presented with an alternative one. The crew onboard the Sampo provide dry GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
suits for you to float around in the boats wake in relative comfort. It’s also a great opportunity to get a photo of yourself standing on the ice in front of the boat. Don’t worry, it’s safe… they tell us. By now you should have had ample opportunity to spot radiant colours in the dark sky caused by solar wind, if not, have one more crack at going further north. Another unique opportunity presents itself at the Kakslauttanen resort, where you can rent expensive glass-roofed pods dotted throughout the snowcovered forest and watch the sky light up all night long. Once you’ve tired of the lights, the town of Saariselkä is another place to get your winter sports on, such as skiing and snowmobiling. The slopes in Finland are relatively small, so this is also a great place to try cross-country skiing. This is
also the site to try your hand at some extreme tobogganing from the summit of Kaunispää and down the 1.2km run. You have to bring your own toboggan, but your hotel should be able to lend you one. Hold on tight! To experience winter - and by extension Christmas - in all its glory, this trip really is an unparalleled experience. You’ll set off on your travels back to Gibraltar with a renewed appreciation of the festivities that await you that evening. Keep one eye out of the plane window and your ears on alert for the flying sleigh as you speed down the runway like the down of a thistle. You might hear him exclaim as he drives out of sight: Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night! 71
food and wine
A CHRISTMAS DINNER
I had been met at the doorway by the housekeeper, Mrs Gibbs, who taking my overnight bag led me through the imposing hallway into a large well-lit room inviting me to sit down whilst she informed Mrs Bruce-Lockhart of my arrival… BY ANDREW LICUDI DIPSWET
I
t was not long before I heard the large front door slamming shut, the sound of the heavy, cast-iron knocker echoing around the vast Victorian hall as it loudly fell back into place. Footsteps quickly followed and there stood Mrs Bruce-Lockhart wearing fawn coloured trousers, a thick cashmere sweater and leather gardening gloves nonchalantly removed to meet my extended hand as I rose awkwardly from the sofa. She looked younger than I had imagined, radiating that unmistakable self-confidence common amongst attractive women with expensive educations and privileged lifestyles. Earlier, I had arrived by taxi from the local railway station after an uneventful journey spent wondering what I was letting myself in for as the scenery whizzed by on this crisp December morning. The house lay at the end of a longgravelled driveway. It was more of a castle than a house with the inevitable turrets and elaborate roof structures much favoured by Victorian architects trying to recreate a romantic past more imagined than real. Either side 72
of the house the ground sloped gently down to a large meadow where sheep grazed and a river snaked its way lazily into a small loch. Dotted here and there where small, pretty cottages which I later learned where let out to salmon fishermen or grouse shooting parties. I have always enjoyed December. At work I had enjoyed the feverish excitement of “getting things done” before a two-week break when everything seemed to close down and one could relax knowing there would be no urgent messages or emails wanting immediate attention. December is when we can open those bottles saved for a special occasion and that old vintage port you have kept for years can be uncorked after a sumptuous Christmas lunch without worrying about overindulging or insulting fellow guest by falling asleep on the sofa. For years we have made the journey to London, always by train, so we can meet Gibraltarian friends the week before Christmas, before most of the group headed back south for family get-togethers. We meet at a cosy restaurant run
by a Greek husband and wife who seem happy for us to bring our own wine without charge which we make up for by generous tipping. Here we will eat tasty tomato fritters with fresh mint and oregano, vegetarian moussaka with apple tzatziki and salmon filets with Greek yoghurt and olive oil from Kalamata. Tradition dictates we each introduce our own wines exaggerating their qualities to the accompaniment of good-natured exclamations of “rubbish” and “skinflint!”. Later, once settled, and on a slightly more serious note, we will comment on the wines and it was here where I tasted my first Jura wine and my first Marsanne/ Roussanne blend from the Languedoc. Both turned out to be revelations. It was early December when I received an email from Mrs Bruce-Lockhart inviting me to attend a charity wine dinner at her house where I would introduce the wines and give the guests a brief description and background before each wine was served. In her email she said I had been recommended by a friend though GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
food and wine she didn’t say who. Rightly, she had been told I would not charge for my time but would request a charitable donation be made to one of several charities. Being December I would normally have turned the offer down but Mrs. Bruce-Lockhart had unselfconsciously included the amount would donate to charity, a substantial sum, and I decided I couldn’t deprive some deserving organisation of such a generous donation. If I accepted I was to make my way to her house as early as possible so we could discuss arrangements. A room would be made available for an overnight stay. Dress would be formal. I accepted. Mrs Bruce-Lockhart turned out to be a widow. A recent one as far as I could surmise from her comments though she didn’t dwell on this other than to tell me her husband had left a wellstocked wine cellar. She herself had only a passing interest in wine. For years they had invited friends and immediate family to a pre-Christmas charity dinner where her husband had taken the role of sommelier, explaining the intricacies of the chosen wines and generally keeping guests amused with anecdotes and jokes. It was understood that the dinner and accompanying fine wines would serve as a Christmas present and no further stockingfillers could be expected from the Bruce-Lockharts. Additionally, a voluntary donation would be made by each guest to a well-known local charity. This arrangement had worked well for years and Mrs Bruce-Lockhart intended to restart the tradition which, unexpectedly, had come to an abrupt halt after her husband had an unfortunate encounter with a large stag whilst driving on GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
a nearby country road. Her husband sounded like a larger than life character and she must have seen the look on my face. “Oh don’t look so worried. Have a look at the menu, choose the wines and tell our guests a little bit about them. I’ll do the jokes and stories. Go and meet Victoria she’s our outside caterer and has been for years. Discuss the menu with her. She has done this dinner countless times. She’s Australian you know!”
...very traditional had it not been for the beetroot. Victoria told me she had been coming to the Bruce-Lockharts for years. A local boyfriend, now her husband, had brought her to these parts and finding little to do she had enrolled at catering college, eventually starting her
own business. Now, she mainly catered for shooting and fishing parties and was pleased Mrs Bruce-Lockhart was restarting their annual charity dinner after the unfortunate accident. She handed me a hand-written copy of the menu which would have been very traditional had it not been for the Burrata with beetroot and pickled walnuts. The wine cellar, as expected, was located in the basement. I had followed Mrs Gibbs down an elegant stairway leading on to a well-lit, wide corridor. At the end of the corridor could be seen a large stag’s head hanging on the wall and guiltily I could not suppress a smile and the thought that venison was off the menu! To our right was a room with a billiard table covered with a dust sheet and further on behind a small, unlocked door was the wine cellar. Mrs Gibbs handed me a torch and wished me good luck. It was a traditional cellar, mostly French, Italian, German and Spanish wines in racks and boxes scattered everywhere. Orderly 73
food and wine it was not. There was no cellar book. It was, none the less, a wine lover’s dream with ancient vintages of Mouton, Montrose, D’yQuem, Taylors, Tondonia and many others. I was to choose two bottles of each wine for the dinner and two bottles for myself which I was to take with me. I decided to carry these down for my friends in London to taste. The dinner went exceptionally well. Victoria was clearly an exceptionally gifted cook and she turned apparently simple dishes into very special ones. Her beef Wellington was wonderful aided and abetted by Mouton 86, perhaps the best wine I have ever tasted. The Burrata with pickled walnuts was served with a 1997 Jadot Meursault. The guests had been greeted with a glass or two of Krug 89 though I did see one guest sniff their glasses suspiciously. Perhaps unused to the ripe smell of apples in a wine. With the cheese I took a risk and chose a CUNE Viña Real 1946 which was still bright and alive and quickly followed by a sweet D’yQuem 1990 an outstanding treat with a simple apple crumble. To finish off an old Taylors Vintage Port from the fifties.
only included wines available on on-line wine lists. Unfortunately, some wine merchants and supermarkets don’t provide wine
lists though these can still provide valuable sources of quality wines. (Vintages included where available.)
SPARKLING ROSE Juve y Camp Brut Rose Cava £12.90 Dependable and value for money Laherte Rose Ultratradition £40.00 A wine geek’s wine. WHITE WINE Tondonia White Reserva £22.75 Possibly the only world class white wine in Spain. It’s an oxidised style so beware. Muga White £10.45 Traditional white Rioja. Good.
RED WINE Tondonia Reserva £20.95 Another class act from Tondonia. Don’t bother with the Gran Reserva at more than double the price unless you are feeling flush. Viña Real Gran Reserva £18.70
For my two bottles I chose more modest wines than those served at the dinner. I felt choosing hugely expensive wines would have been taking advantage of Mrs Bruce Lockhart’s generosity. They were nonetheless a hit with our friends in London.
A dependable favourite.
For those of you still not decided on your Christmas wines I have some personal recommendations for this Christmas. These are wines I know well, provide exceptional value for money and are available locally. I have
A classic. Still a baby. Perhaps better to look for a more mature vintage if you can find it and afford it.
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PORT Taylors First Estate Port £7.10 Enjoyable, moreish, cheap. Taylors Vintage Port 2003 £51.50
Crusted Ports Second only to a mature vintage port. Really good, inexpensive generally. Various producers. Ask around. Try the supermarkets.
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OFFICE PARTYWEAR
What to wear for office party #1 through to #357. BY JULIA COELHO
W
hether you’re the sort of person who jumps at the first opportunity to get dressed up or you’d rather bail on your work Christmas party altogether, there's no avoiding the fact that party season is officially upon us. It seems like yesterday that we were scouring the racks for new bikinis and beachwear pieces, but now the long-anticipated countdown to 2020 is on at last! As hard as it may be to get your head around, you just need to take one quick look at the high street; our favourite haunts are riddled with Christmas lights and laden with impressive party collections and festive accessories. Everywhere from Topshop, Mango, Zara & Bershka have sprung into full-on party mode in the last few weeks, with so many dazzling options to choose from. 78
It’s fair to say that for the majority of the year, I’m pretty safe in my clothing choices. For the ease of comfort and wearability, I tend to stick to a neutral colour palette and revisit my classic wardrobe staples time and time again, including a handful of knit jumpers, a couple of my favourite pairs of jeans, and a check blazer or teddy coat. December, however, is a very different story. December means that the Christmas adverts have officially been released, our cupboards are stuffed with polvorones and mince pies, and we now feel like we can really start planning our festive outfits. Party season provides me with a safe space to express my inner glamourpuss. At this time of the year, I find myself naturally gravitating towards anything with a hint of sparkle and embellishment, as opposed to the muted pieces I usually
favour. But festive dressing takes on an entirely new meaning when you throw work into the mix. It can be one of the greater challenges of the season to nail the perfect balance between work-appropriate yet party-ready aesthetics. Firstly, there is such a thing as too formal. The time to wear a floorsweeping gown is not at a work party, but with the overwhelming mini and midi-length dresses and skirts available on the high street right now, you won’t even have to give maxis a single thought. Besides, no one said you had to wear a dress to be dressy! A pair of polished trousers are just as effective and gives you a glam edge while still being suitable for the office. Velvet jackets and suits are an amazing alternative (also for a wedding guest!), as they look just as great with a pair of smart trainers as they do with strappy GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
fashion
LEFT: BELT SUIT BLAZER - MANGO - £69.99 TOP:BLACK FLOWER PRINT MINI DRESS TOPSHOP - £39.00
No one said you had to wear a dress to be dressy! heels; just whack the latter into a bag and you’re ready for a swift desk to drinks transition. While we might have embraced comfort for our day-to-day footwear with flat loafers and trainers long having been our shoes of choice, when it comes to festive events, we're still stuck on the idea that only sky-high heels will suffice. Whether it be wedges, kittens or block heels, a little extra lift is always desirable when it comes to a more formal GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
event. But, increasingly, I’ve been perusing the shops to hunt for shoes that are as gorgeous as they are easy to dance in. When we’re talking work-appropriate shoes too, height is definitely something to consider. Bold colours & metallic options are always a fantastic choice, as they'll add a bit of oomph to any look. Accessories are key to any party outfit, but I always ensure I don’t overdo it when it comes to workparty looks. If you’re keen on
wearing statement dangly earrings but feel they’re a little over the top, look no further than a classic pair of gold hoops. Not only do they go with literally everything, but they’re also appropriate for so many different occasions. Similarly, Christmas is the perfect time to take the headband trend up a notch. Think tasteful rhinestones or some pearls to perfectly complement a neutral yet festive look, and best of all, they’re particularly suited to a work look as they add an element 79
fashion of elegance and formality to any outfit. Finally, complete your look with a smart clutch or embellished mini bag, which always reads as elegant and put together, as well as ensuring that your friends don’t require any of your usual bag space for the safekeeping of their own belongings. The truth is that everything we need is probably already in our wardrobes, it just needs to be given a new lease of life and a fresh perspective. Unfortunately, year after year, piles of sad RIGHT: BUCKLE PEG TROUSERS TOPSHOP - £36.00 BOTTOM LEFT: HEADBAND WITH CRYSTAL EMBELLISHMENT AND BLACK VELVET - ASOS DESIGN - £10.00 BOTTOM RIGHT: SATIN PLEATED COLUMN MIDI SKIRT - ASOS DESIGN - £30.00
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fashion
They'll add a bit of oomph to any look. sequinned dresses and slinky tops are neglected and relegated to the back of our wardrobes, having been given the spotlight for one night and never to be seen again. We need to make conscious efforts to free ourselves from the shackles of fast fashion, and the mindset that we need to buy new clothes for every event that arises. Invest your money in longwearing high-quality staples, and remember that sometimes, less is more. RIGHT: SING DIAMANTE GRAB BAG TOPSHOP - £29.00 BOTTOM LEFT: LEATHER BUCKET BAG - MANGO - £29.99 BOTTOM MIDDLE: HEEL DESTRUCTURED SANDALS - MANGO - £35.99 BOTTOM LEFT: ORNATE HOOP EARRINGS IN GOLD - PIECES - £6.00
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VEGAN CRANBERRY SAUCE
Recipe by The Gibraltar Vegan instagram.com/thegibraltarvegan
Just because you’re not having turkey doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the sweet Christmas favourite, cranberry sauce. If cranberry isn’t your thing, try red currents or even boysenberries if you’re feeling very adventurous. (This makes enough for six people and can be kept in the fridge for a week.)
•
200g white sugar
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250ml water
•
Lemon zest
INGREDIENTS
1. Add all of the ingredients into a saucepan, boil it until it reaches a simmer and leave it to cook for 15
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300g fresh or frozen cranberries
METHOD
mins. The juice will come out of the cranberries and that is when you know it is ready. 2. Pour into a jar and leave to cool, it will thicken as it cools so do not worry if it appears too runny.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
MAMMY’S VEGAN CHRISTMAS STUFFING
Recipe by The Gibraltar Vegan instagram.com/thegibraltarvegan
One of my favourite things about Christmas dinner was always the stuffing. My Mammy used to make it with potato, and that for me was the key ingredient. This recipe takes a detour from hers, not just because it is vegan, but the basics are still the same. INGREDIENTS •
250g breadcrumbs
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1 medium potato mashed
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30g pumpkin seeds
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30g hazelnuts
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2 shallots
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200ml vegetable stock
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60g vegan butter
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1tbsp chia seeds mixed with three tbsps of water
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25g fresh chopped parsley
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3tbsp dried oregano
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•
1tbsp garlic seasoning
METHOD 1. Place the breadcrumbs, mashed potato and pumpkin seeds into a bowl. 2. Chop the hazelnuts and add to the bowl. 3. Chop the shallots and add to the bowl.
5. Melt then add the butter, chia seeds mixed with water and all the herbs, and mix well (again I use my hands). 6. When the stuffing is mixed well, place it in a greased dish. 7. Cook on 180°C for 30 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
4. Add vegetable stock and mix well (I use my hands). 83
restaurants, bars & pubs THE LOUNGE
SOLO BAR & GRILL
ALL’S WELL
Stylish Lounge Gastro Bar on Queensway Quay Marina serving best quality food prepared by passionate, qualified chefs. Popular quiz on Sundays from 7pm and a relaxed friendly atmosphere. A separate Lounge Bar Area serving a wide range of hot drinks, wines, beers, spirits and cocktails at reasonable prices, with large TV’s for sports and events coverage.
Solo Bar and Grill is a stylish and modern eatery — perfect for business functions or lunches — and part of the popular Cafe Solo stable. Serving everything from Goats’ Cheese Salad, Mediterranean Pâté and Cajun Langoustines to Beer Battered John Dory, or Harissa Chicken, and Chargrilled Sirloin Steak. This is a delightful venue in Europort with a cosy mezzanine level and terrace seating. Well worth a visit, or two! Available for private functions and corporate events — call 200 62828 to book your function or event.
In the fashionable Casemates square stands Gibraltar’s last historical themed pub, named for the 18th-century practice of locking gates to the city at night when the guard called ‘All’s Well’. Their food menu caters to all cravings; whether it’s fish and chips, a homemade pie, or maybe even a delicious sharing platter, they have it all. All’s Well have an amazing range of bottled beers as well as being the only pub in Gibraltar to offer craft beer on tap. Happy hour is daily from 7-9pm. Large terrace. Karaoke Mondays & Wednesdays until late.
Open: 10am-late Mon - Sun Be sure to arrive early to ensure a seat! The Lounge, 17 Ragged Staff Wharf, Queensway Quay Marina Tel: 200 61118 info@thelounge.gi
Open: 12-8pm. Solo Bar & Grill, Eurotowers Tel: 200 62828
All’s Well, Casemates Square. Tel: 200 72987
NUNOS ITALIAN Nunos Italian Restaurant, overlooking the Mediterranean, is popular with hotel guests, tourists and local residents. This 2 rosette rated, AA restaurant is renowned for its eclectic interior, intimate atmosphere and fine cuisine. Savour a wide selection of freshly prepared Italian delicacies, including bread, pasta, meat and fish, followed by delicious desserts. In the summer months, the hotel offers alfresco dining for private parties in the Garden Grill. Sitting nestled in the colonial garden you can enjoy a mouth-watering menu of charcoal-grilled meats and freshly prepared salads in candlelit surroundings. Open: Mon-Sun 1-3pm lunch, 7–11pm dinner Nunos Italian Restaurant and Terrace Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay Tel: 200 76501
Email: reservations@caletahotel.gi
CAFÉ SOLO Modern Italian eatery set in lively Casemates square. Everything from chicory and crispy pancetta salad with walnuts, pears and blue cheese dressing, or king prawn, mozzarella and mango salad to pastas (eg: linguine with serrano ham, king prawns and rocket; smoked salmon and crayfish ravioli with saffron and spinach cream) to salads (eg: Vesuvio spicy beef, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers and red onions; and Romana chorizo, black pudding, egg and pancetta) and pizzas (eg: Quatto Stagioni topped with mozzarella, ham, chicken, pepperoni and mushroom) and specialities such as salmon fishcakes, beef medallions and duck. Daily specials on blackboard. No smoking. Café Solo Grand Casemates Square. Tel: 200 44449
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information EMERGENCY SERVICES EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY: ALL EMERGENCIES................................. 112 FIRE...............................................................190 AMBULANCE.............................................190 POLICE.................................................................199
Business Information Financial Serv. Commission Tel: 200 40283/4 Chamber of Commerce Tel: 200 78376 Federation Small Business Tel: 200 47722 Company Registry.Tel: 200 78193 Useful Numbers Airport (general info.) . Tel: 200 12345 Hospital, St Bernards. . Tel: 200 79700 Weather information. . Tel: 5-3416 Frontier Queue Update Tel: 200 42777 Gibraltar Museum Tel: 200 74289 18/20 Bomb House Lane 10am-6pm (Sat 10am-2pm). Admission: Adults £2/Children under 12 - £1. Exhibitions also at Casemates gallery.
Police 200 72500
Gibraltar Services Police Emergency Nos: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598
Gibraltar Garrison Library Tel: 200 77418 2 Library Ramp Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm. Free Library tour offered every Friday at 11am. chris.tavares@gibraltargarrisonlibrary.gi
Gibraltar Public Holidays 2019
Registry Office Tel: 200 72289 It’s possible to get married within 48 hours. A fact taken advantage of by stars such as Sean Connery & John Lennon.
Good Friday
Rock Tours by Taxi Tel: 200 70052 As well as offering normal fares, taxis provide Rock Tours taking in the Upper Rock, Europa Point etc.
Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 27th May
Queen’s Birthday
Monday 17th June
John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 200 75669 Includes cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Mon-Fri.
Late Summer Bank Holiday
Monday 26th Aug
Gibraltar National Day Tuesday 10th Sept
New Year’s Day Commonwealth Day Easter Monday
Monday 1st Jan Monday 11th Mar Friday 19th Apr Monday 22nd Apr
Workers Memorial Day Monday 29th Apr May Day
Christmas Day Boxing Day
Wednesday 1st May
Wednesday 25th Dec Thursday 26th Dec
SUPPORT GROUPS ADHD Gibraltar adhdgibraltar@gmail.com facebook.com/ADHDGibraltar/ Alcoholics Anonymous meet 7pm Tues & Thurs at Nazareth House Tel: 200 73774. A Step Forward support for single, separated, divorced/widowed people, meet 8pm Mon at St Andrew’s Church. Mummy & Me Breastfeeding Support Group those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have breastfed to get together for coffee / support. Partners and older children welcome. Meets 1st Wed / month at Chilton Court Community Hall at 1.30pm. Enquiries and support 54014517. Childline Gibraltar confidential phone line for children in need. Freephone 8008 - 7 days a week 5pm - 9pm Citizens’ Advice Bureau Open Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:00pm, Fri 9:30am- 3:30pm. Tel: 200 40006 Email: info@cab.gi or visit at 10 Governor’s Lane. Free & confidential, impartial & independent advice and info. COPE Support group for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis. Meetings at Catholic Community Centre Book
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
Shop at 7.30pm first Thur of each month. Tel: 200 51469 Email: copeadsupport@hotmail.com Dignity At Work Now Confidential support and advice for those who are being bullied at work. Tel: 57799000. Families Anonymous Support group for relatives and friends concerned about the use of drugs or related behavioural problems. Meet weekly on Thurs at 9pm at Family and Community Centre, Mid Harbours Estate, Bishop Caruana Road. 54007676 or 54014484. Gamblers Anonymous Telephone: 54001520 Gibraltar Cardiac Rehabilitation and Support Group meets on the first Tues of every month at 8.30pm at John Mac Hall, except for Jul & Aug. Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group 72 Prince Edwards Rd Tel: 200 78509 Mobile: 54007924 website: dyslexia.gi Gibraltar Hearing Issues & Tinnitus Association Voicemail: (+350) 200 66755, Text Message (SMS): (+350) 54066055, Correspondence Charity P.O. Box 90220, Gibraltar. Email: info@ ghita.gi, Facebook: Gibraltar Hearing Issues & Tinnitus Association (GHITA & BSL Club), Our support group meets the first Monday of every month at Suite 3, Kings Bastion Leisure Centre as from 5pm.
Gibraltar Marriage Care Free relationship counselling, including pre-marriage education (under auspices of Catholic Church, but open to all). Tel: 200 71717. Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired Tel: 200 50111 (24hr answering service). Hope miscarriage support Tel: 200 41817. Mummy & Me Breastfeeding Support: Meets every Thursday 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous Tel: 200 70720 Parental Support Group helping parents and grandparents with restrictive access to their children and grandchildren. Tel: 200 46536, 200 76618, or 54019602. Psychological Support Group, PO Box 161, Nazareth House. Meet Tuesdays at 7pm, Fridays 8pm. Tel: Yolanda 54015553 With Dignity Gibraltar support for separated, divorced/widowed or single people. Meet Weds 9pm, Catholic Community Centre, Line Wall Rd. Outings/activities. Women in Need Voluntary organisation for all victims of domestic violence. Refuge available. Tel: 200 42581 (24 hrs).
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The Gibraltar Magazine is published and produced by Rock Publishing Ltd, Gibraltar. Tel: (+350) 200 77748
NON-URGENT CALLS: Ambulance Station 200 75728
A BEARD ‘ TOO LONG’ AND A GOD ‘TOO OLD’ FOR SANTA Missing out on the Christmas spirit. BY PETER SCHIRMER
‘T
oo old, and my beard needs trimming. I travel a thousand stadia... spend six hours crammed into uncomfortable easyJet seats... pay out a small fortune to a brace of taxi drivers... and get to the address only to be told that I’m too old.’ Zeus’ face was beetroot red and his anger so apoplectic that the decibels of his thundered rage shattered half a dozen glasses before outstripping the scale and dwindling to little more than a whisper. Hera cast a knowing glance at Athena, who smiled, shrugged her shoulders in sympathy and returned to her laptop screen where a British politician – she couldn’t remember his name but he was something to do with a labour group – seemed to be as furious in his rantings as the Father of the Gods. Oddly, he too had a white beard (though neatly trimmed) and a manic glint in his eyes. 86
It had all seemed so simple when, a fortnight earlier, Zeus had spotted an advertisement in the newsprint wrapping his of his fish and chip lunch. ‘FATHER CHRISTMASES’, it read ‘...needed for toy department of busy Oxford Street store. £15 an hour.’ And went on to detail how and where job-seekers should apply.
His thundered rage shattered half a dozen glasses. ‘I might have a go at that,’ the Olympian had said. ‘I would make an excellent Santa.’ waving the scrap of paper to shake off vinegar spills before handing it to his wife. Hera had scanned the advert, and immediately began to worry.
‘Do you know where Oxford Street is?’ she had asked. ‘Of course I do... somewhere near the Rock Hotel, I think.’ ‘No. It’s in London,’ she had pointed out. And that should have ended the matter. But, after the failure of his Codswallop Coalition in the October election Zeus had lost interest in politics but found nothing to replace it. And – constantly under foot, except for his noon-time forays into Casemates for fish and chips and gossip with his former caucus members – Hera had urged him to find ‘something new to occupy his mind’. Poseidon could take him fishing... or he could, perhaps, find a job. The Olympian family had argued lengthily – and inconclusively – as to what sort of work was best suited to an octo-millennial GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
satire god who voluntarily had shed most of his supernatural powers. His early efforts as one of the begging statues on Main Street had failed, as had his attempt, in an unregistered partnership with Hermes and Dionysus, to establish a celestial fund of funds to invest in promising start-up ventures. It was too late to join the cryptocurrency stampede, and, for all his gravitas, the Father of the Gods was plainly too shifty for a job selling second-hand cars, let alone something in financial services.
the plan, though from a strictly feminist viewpoint, arguing that a person bringing Yuletide joy – or disappointment – to children should be a ‘Mother’ Christmas. Though, dressed in a red coat and floppy red hat, he would ‘look the part’, she admitted reluctantly.
The few of his coterie of caucus members who still could pull strings in the civil service were not going to waste favours owed to them on Zeus – in Gibraltar family came first; nor were any of those in his own family who had found honest employment willing to risk their own positions by recommending that a vacancy be filled by someone they knew to be stubbornly lazy and occasionally dishonest.
Dionysus and Hebe agreed that the experience would be ‘cool’. Hera fretted that, left to his own devices in a city the size of London, Zeus would get himself into trouble – though she didn’t specify what shape the ‘trouble’ would take. Poseidon considered ‘the whole Christmas fussification’ an annoying interruption of the fishing season, and Aphrodite urged her father to ‘take your mobile and e-mail pictures of the latest cosmetics’.
So Zeus had remained listless, disgruntled, and underfoot, until, by chance, he spotted the ‘smalls’ advert seeking Father Christmases. To Hera’s dismay the fact that the job was in London didn’t dent his sudden enthusiasm; nor did the recollection (prompted dissuasively by Hera) of the previous Boxing Day when, mistaking the god for Santa, a gaggle of youngsters had roundly berated and abused him for failing to deliver the presents they had requested. The Olympian offspring were divided about the venture. Apollo – the only Olympian who had retained his godly powers – to run his daily circumnavigation of the earth – bluntly refused his father’s plea for a lift. Artemis opposed GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
‘I would make an excellent Santa.’
But in the end – as was so often the case in Olympian affairs – Zeus had had his way and Hebe had scurried off to Blands Travel to book an easyJet flight to Gatwick... with an open return date. So, Zeus had flown - from dry, sunny warmth of the Rock to the wet cold of Britain’s capital city where everyone seemed to wear a long face and the only topic of discussion was the coming Apocalypse of Brexit. It had not gone well, he admitted to Hera when he returned on the late flight 48 hours later. Roadworks and traffic jams had slowed taxis to a crawling pace
or standstill as he watched the meters ticking up. The young man in the HR section of the department store had attempted to wave him away with a remonstrance that they did not want ‘rough sleepers’ (whatever these were); and the young woman fitting him into an oversized red overcoat had stabbed his buttocks several times as she tried to pin the coat into shape. The final indignity had come when an even younger woman had squirmed on his lap and poked a half-sucked lollipop into his face – apparently playing the role of the sort of fractious child Santa would have to deal with – and had screamed when he slapped her and unceremoniously tumbled her off his lap. And that was when the spotty youth from HR had told the god: ‘You’re too old, and your beard needs a heavy trimming. We haven’t a job for you’. Back on the Rock, Zeus had sulked for days... until this explosion. ‘Did you know,’ Hebe asked her father, ‘that the Trafalgar players are looking for people in their pantomime? I’m sure they would find a part for you. It doesn’t pay but you’d have fun. Lots of pretty girls...’ Zeus nodded and smiled. Perhaps the Olympians would have a happy Christmas after all, thought Hera. And crossed her fingers. 87
clubs & activities Arts & Crafts Cross Stitch Club: John Mackintosh Hall, 1st Floor, Mon 6-8pm, fee £1. Gibraltar Arts & Crafts Association: Children: Mon&Fri 12.30-2pm, Mon-Fri 3.45-5.15pm Adults: Wed 5.45-7.15, Sat 10.30 to 12.30, Tel: 20073865 email: gibartsandcrafts@hotmail.com Knit and Natter Group: Tues 11am-3pm, Thurs 5.30-7.30pm, at Arts & Crafts Shop, Casemates balcony. Free to join and refreshments provided. Tel: 20073865. The Arts Centre: Prince Edward’s Road, Art classes for children and adults. For more info call Tel: 200 79788. The Fine Arts Association Gallery: At Casemates. Open 10am-2pm, 3-6pm Mon-Fri, Sat 11am-1pm. The Arts Society Gibraltar: Monthly illustrated talks open to the public. Registration from 6:30pm every 3rd Wednesday of the month. Guest fee £12. We meet at The Garrison Library. Contact gibraltar@theartssociety.org or Claus Olesen on 54036666. Website with all informaiton is gibraltar.theartssociety.org Board Games Calpe Chess Club & Junior Club: meets in Studio 1, John Mackintosh Hall Thursday, Juniors: 5p.m. - 7 p.m. / Tuesday & Thursday 7p.m. - 10:30 The Gibraltar Scrabble Club: Meets on Tuesdays at 3pm. Tel: Vin 20073660 or Roy 20075995. All welcome. The Subbuteo Club: Meets in Charles Hunt Room, John Mackintosh Hall. Dance Adult Dance Classes: Wed evenings at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm. Contact Dilip on 200 78714. Art in Movement Centre: Hip-hop/Break Dance, Contemporary Dance, Pilates, Capoeira, Acrobatics, Street Kids & Tods, Modern Dance. Performance and Film opportunities. Judo & Jujitsu Classes: Tue/ Thur with Sensei Conroy. All ages. Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. www. artinmovement.net FB: Art In Movement A.I.M, tel 54025041 or 54007457 Ballet, Modern Theatre, Contemporary & Hip-hop: weekly at Danza Academy. Training from 3 years to Adult Advanced. 68/2 Prince Edward’s Rd Tel: 54027111. Bellydance Classes, all levels, Tue 8-9pm at the Ocean Village Gym (non–members welcome). Contact 54005593. DSA Old & Modern Sequence Dancing: Sessions at Central Hall Fri 8.30pm, beginners 8pm. Tel: 200 78901 or tony@ gibraltar.gi Everybody welcome. Modern & Latin American Sequence Dancing: Mon at Catholic Community Centre 8pm. Tel. Andrew 200 78901. Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Flexibility, Hip Hop & Dance Theatre: Classes weekly at Urban Dance Studio, 2 Jumpers Bastion. Tel: Yalta 54012212 or Jolene 54015125. Rockkickers Linedance Club: Governor’s Meadow 1st School. www.rockkickers.com Salsa Gibraltar Salsa: Tues at Laguna Social Club, Laguna Estate. Beginners 7-8.30pm. Intermediates 8.30-10pm. Tel: Mike 54472000 or info@salsagibraltar.com Zumba Classes at Urban Dance: Jumpers Bastion, with certified instructor Tyron Walker. Tel: 20063959 or 54012212 or Twitter: @UrbanDanceGib History & Heritage The Gibraltar Heritage Trust: Main Guard, 13 John Mackintosh Sq. Tel: 200 42844. The Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association: Dedicated to the preservation of Rock’s transport/motoring heritage. Assists members in restoration / maintenance of classic vehicles. New members welcome. Tel: 200 44643. Garrison Library Tours: at 11am on Fri, duration 1h 50mins. Tel: 20077418. History Alive: Historical re-enactment parade. Main Street up to Casemates Square every Sat at 12 noon. Music Gibraltar National Choir and Gibraltar Junior National Choir: Rehearses at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Tel: 54831000. The Calpe Band: Mon & Wed. For musicians of brass/woodwind instruments of all standards/ages/abilities 7-9pm. Tel: 54017070 or thecalpeband@gmail.com
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Jazz Nights: Thurs at 9pm at O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel. Tel: 200 70500. Outdoor Activities The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Gibraltar: Exciting self-development programme for young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. Contact: Award House, North Mole Road, PO Box: 1260. mjpizza@ gibtelecom.net, www.thedukes.gi. Social Clubs The Rotary Club of Gibraltar meets the Rock Hotel, 7pm Tuesday evenings. Guests welcome. For contact or info www.rotaryclubgibraltar.com Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes: (Gibraltar Province) meets RAOB Club, 72/9 Prince Edward’s Road - Provincial Grand Lodge, Thu/month, 7.30pm. William Tilley 2371, Thurs 8.30pm. Buena Vista 9975, monthly, Social Lodge. www.akearn1.wix. com/raob-gibraltar, william.tilley.lodge@ hotmail.co.uk, Clive, tel: 58008074 Special Interest Clubs & Societies Creative Writers Group: meets up on Tuesday mornings at 10.30 in O’Reilley’s Irish Bar and it is free to attend. Tel: Carla 54006696. Gibraltar Book Club: For info Tel: Parissa 54022808. Gibraltar Horticultural Society: meets 1st Thurs of month 6pm, J.M. Hall. Spring Flower Show, slide shows, flower arrangement demos, outings to garden centres, annual Alameda Gardens tour. All welcome. Gibraltar Philosophical Society: devoted to intellectually stimulating debate. Frequent lectures and seminars on a range of topics. Tel: 54008426 or Facebook: facebook.com/gibphilosophy Gibraltar Photographic Society: Meets on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Wellington Front. Induction courses, talks, discussions, competitions etc. For details contact the secretary on, leslinares@gibtelecom.net Harley Davidson Owners’ Club: www.hdcgib.com Lions Club of Gibraltar: Meets 2nd and 4th Wed of the month at 50 Line Wall Road. www.lionsclubofgibraltar.com St John’s Ambulance: Adult Volunteers Training Sessions from 8-10pm on Tues. Tel: 200 77390 or training@stjohn.gi The Royal British Legion: For info or membership contact the Branch Secretary 20074604 or write to PO Box 332. UN Association of Gibraltar: PO Box 599, 22a Main Street. Tel: 200 52108. Sports Supporters Clubs Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Club: Meets at Star Bar, Parliament Lane, when Spurs games are televised - call prior to matches to check game is televised. Great food for a lunch if KO is early or an early supper if the game is later. Gibraltar Arsenal Supporters Club: Meets match days upstairs at Time Out Café, Eurotowers. Gooners of all ages welcome. For info/news visit www.GibGooners.com Tel: 54010681 (Bill) or 54164000 (John). Gibraltar Hammers: Meets on match days at the Victoria Stadium Bar, Bayside Road. All league games are shown live. All West Ham supporters and their families are welcome. For details visit www.gibraltarhammers.com or gibraltarhammers@hotmail.com Leeds United Gibraltar Supporters Club. Meet at The Trafalgar Sports Bar 1 Rosia Road when live matches are on. All Leeds United supporters and their families are welcome. Join Leeds United Gibraltar Supporters club at: facebook.com/luscgib Sports & Fitness Artistic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Artistic Gymnastics Association. Tel: Angela 200 70611 or Sally 200 74661. Athletics: Gibraltar Amateur Athletics Association holds competitions through year for juniors, adults and veterans. Two main clubs (Calpeans 200 71807, Lourdians 200 75180) training sessions at Victoria Stadium. Badminton: Recreational badminton weekdays at Victoria Stadium (Tel: 200 78409 for allocations). Gibraltar Badminton Association (affiliated to BWF& BE) junior club/tournaments, senior leagues/ recreational. www.badmintongibraltar.com
Ballet Barre Fitness: Adults on Wed 10am & Fri 6pm at The Arts Centre. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com Basketball: Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association (affiliated FIBA) leagues/ training for minis, passarelle, cadets, seniors and adults at a variety of levels. Tel: John 200 77253, Randy 200 40727. Boxing: Gibraltar Amateur Boxing Association (member IABA) gym on Rosia Rd. Over 13s welcome. Tuition with ex-pro boxer Ernest Victory. Tel: 56382000 or 20042788. Cheerleading: Gibraltar Cheerleading Association, girls and boys of all ages. Cheerleading and street cheer/hip-hop at Victoria Stadium. Recreational / competitive levels. Tel: 58008338. Canoeing: Gibraltar Canoeing Association. Tel: Nigel 200 52917 or Arturo 54025033. Cricket: Gibraltar Cricket, National Governing Body & Associate Member of ICC. Governs International & Domestic Men’s, Women’s, Boys’ & Girls’ cricket- league & cup competitions and in-school coaching. www.gibraltarcricket.com, info@gibcricket. com, Twitter: @Gibraltar_Crick Cycling: Gibraltar Cycling Association various cycling tours. Darts: Gibraltar Darts Association (full member of WDF & affiliate of BDO). We cater for men, ladies & youth who take part in leagues, competitions and a youth academy for the correct development of the sport. Tel: Darren 54027171 Secretary, Alex 54021672 Youth Rep, Justin 54022622 President. Email: info@ gibraltardarts.com Football: Gibraltar Football Association leagues/competitions for all ages OctoberMay. Futsal in summer, Victoria Stadium. Tel: 20042941 www.gibraltarfa.com Gaelic Football Club (Irish sport): Males any age welcome. Get fit, play sport, meet new friends, travel around Spain/Europe and play an exciting and competitive sport. Training every Wed on the MOD pitch on Devil’s Tower Road at 7pm. Andalucia League with Seville and Marbella to play matches home and away monthly. Visit www.gibraltargaels. com or secretary.gibraltar.europe@gaa.ie Hockey: Gibraltar Hockey Association (members FIH & EHF) high standard competitions/training for adults/juniors. Tel: Eric 200 74156 or Peter 200 72730 for info. Iaido: teaches the Japanese sword (Katana), classes every week. www.iaidogibraltar.com Ice Skating: Gibraltar Rock Stars Figure Skating Club lessons every Tuesday evening & Saturday morning, all levels including adults. Contact grsfsc@gmail.com or 58700000 Iwa Dojo, Kendo & Jujitsu: Classes every week, for kids/adults. Tel: 54529000 www. iwadojo.com or dbocarisa@iwadojo.com Judo and Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Budokai Judo Association UKMAF recognised instructors for all ages and levels at Budokai Martial Arts Centre, Wellington Front. Tel: Charlie 20043319. Ju-jitsu: Gibraltar Ju-jitsu Academy training and grading for juniors/seniors held during the evening at 4 North Jumpers Bastion. Tel: 54011007. Karate-do Shotokai: Gibraltar Karate-do Shotokai Association - Karate training for junior & seniors at Clubhouse, Shotokai karate centre, 41H Town Range. Monday: 9:30 p.m. & Wednesday 9:45 p.m. Karate: Shotokan karate midday Mon beginners, other students 8.30pm. Thurs 8.30pm. In town at temporary dojo or privately by arrangement. Contact Frankie 54038127 or info@fhmedia.co.uk. Motorboat Racing: Gibraltar Motorboat Racing Association Tel: Wayne 200 75211. Muay Thai and Muay Boran Club: Tues & Thur at Boyd’s Kings Bastion Leisure Centre at 6:30pm, Tel: John – 54024707 FB: Gibraltar Muay Thai Netball: Gibraltar Netball Association (affiliated FENA & IFNA) competitions through year, senior/junior leagues. Tel: 20041874. Petanque: Gibraltar Petanque Association. New members welcome. Tel: 54002652. Pilates: Intermediate Pilates: Tues & Fri 9.30am, beginners Pilates: Fri 10.50am at the Shotokai Centre, 41H Town Range. Tel: 54033465 or pilatesgibraltar@hotmail.com Gibraltar Pool Association: (Member of the
EBA) home and away league played on Thurs throughout the season, various tournaments played on a yearly basis both nationally and internationally, Tel: 56925000 gibpool@ gibtelecom.net, www.gib8ball.com Rhythmic Gymnastics: Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association runs sessions from 4 years of age, weekday evenings. Tel: 56000772 or Sally 200 74661. Rugby: Gibraltar Rugby caters for all ages from 4 years old to veterans (over 35’s). It organises competitions and sessions for Juniors; 4 x Senior Clubs; Veterans team; Touch Rugby and a Referees Society. Email admin@gibraltarrfu. com or visit www.gibraltarrfu.com Sailing: Gibraltar Yachting Association junior/ senior competitive programme (April - Oct) Tel: Royal Gibraltar Yacht Club at 200 78897. Shooting: Gibraltar Shooting Federation. Rifle, Europa Point Range (Stephanie 54020760); Clay pigeon, East Side (Harry 200 74354); Pistol, near Royal Naval Hospital (Louis 54095000). Snooker: Members of European Billiards & Snooker Association - facilities at Jumpers Bastion with 3 tables. Professional coaching for juniors/seniors. Organised leagues/ tournaments and participation in international competitions. Tel: 56262000 / 54000068, or info@gibraltarsnooker.com Squash: Gibraltar Squash Association, Squash Centre, South Pavilion Road (members WSF & ESF). Adult and junior tournaments and coaching. Tel: 200 44922. Sub-Aqua: Gibraltar Sub-Aqua Association taster dives for over 14s, tuition from local clubs. Voluntary sports clubs: Noah’s Dive Club and 888s Dive Club. Tel: 54991000. Commercial sports diving schools available. Time - Thursday 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.. Telephone, Jenssen Ellul - 54027122 Swimming: Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association (member FINA & LEN) opens its pool for leisure swimming. Junior lessons, squad for committed swimmers, water polo. Pool open Mon&Thurs: 7-10am, 12.30-4pm. Tue, Wed, Fri: 7-10am, 12:30-5pm. Sat: 3-5pm. Sun: closed. Mon to Fri from 5-6pm groups training. 6-7.30 squad training. Mon, Wed, Fri 7.30-8.30 swimming joggers, Tues & Thurs 7:30-8:30 junior Water polo. Mon, Tues & Thurs 8:30-10pm Adult water polo. Tel: 200 72869. Table Tennis: Gibraltar Table Tennis Association training and playing sessions, Victoria Stadium, Tues 6-10pm and Thurs 8-11pm with coaching and league competition. Tel: 56070000 or 20060720. Taekwondo: Gibraltar Taekwondo Association classes/gradings Tel: Mari 20044142 or www. gibraltartaekwondo.org Tai Chi: Tai Chi for children and adults. MonThur 6.30-8pm at Kings Bastion Leisure Centre and Sat 9am-1pm at the Yoga Centre, 33 Town Range. Tel: Dilip 200 78714. Tennis and Paddle Tennis: Sandpits Club. Junior and adult training available. info : www. sandpits.club. Tel (Louis) 20077035 Ten-Pin Bowling: At King’s Bowl in the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre every day. Gibraltar Ten Pin Bowling (members FIQ & WTBA) leagues, training for juniors and squad. Tel: 200 52442. Triathlon: Hercules Triathlon Club organises swimming, running and cycling training sessions and competes regularly in Andalucia and Internationally. Contact chris.walker@york. gi or Facebook “Hercules Triathlon Club” Volleyball: Gibraltar Volleyball Association training, indoor leagues, beach volleyball competition, 3 v 3 competition, juniors and seniors. Tel: 54001973 or 54885000. Yoga: Integral Yoga Centre runs a full programme of classes from Mon-Fri at 33 Town Range. Tel: 200 41389. All welcome. Theatrical Groups Gibraltar Amateur Drama Association: Meet at Ince’s Hall Theatre Complex, 310 Main Street. Tel: 20042237. Trafalgar Theatre Group: Meets 2nd Wed of month, Garrison Library 8pm. All welcome.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
© JEREMY CLIFTON-PSAILA
TAKEN A GREAT PHOTO OF GIB AND THINK EVERYONE SHOULD SEE IT? Email your high resolution photo to editor@thegibraltarmagazine.com and you might see it published here!
information
CRUISE SCHEDULE DECEMBER 2019 ARRIVAL
VESSEL
ETD
PASS
OPERATOR
CAPACITY
Wed 04 Dec 19, 07:00
QUEEN VICTORIA
14:00 British
Cunard Line
1990
Wed 04 Dec 19, 08:00
MARELLA DISCOVERY 2
16:00 International
Tui Cruises
1804
Fri 06 Dec 19, 07:00
COSTA NEORIVIERA
18:00 Italian
Costa Crociere
1244
Mon 09 Dec 19, 09:00
MEIN SCHIFF 4
18:00 German
TUI Cruises
2506
Tue 10 Dec 19, 07:00
PACIFIC PRINCESS
21:00 American
Princess Cruises
672
Mon 16 Dec 19, 08:00
ARCADIA
14:00 British
P&O
2016
Tue 17 Dec 19, 08:00
MEIN SCHIFF 4
18:00 German
TUI Cruises
2506
Thu 26 Dec 19, 07:00
MARCO POLO
14:00 British
Cruise & Maritime Voyages
850
Thu 26 Dec 19, 09:00
COLUMBUS
18:00 British
Cruise & Maritime Voyages
1400
Mon 30 Dec 19, 07:00
MSC MAGNIFICA
15:00 Italian
Msc Crociere
3223
Mon 30 Dec 19, 09:00
MEIN SCHIFF 4
18:00 German
TUI Cruises
2506
03 Dec '19 - 09 Dec '19
DUTY PHARMACY OPENING HOURS
10 Dec ‘19 – 16 Dec ‘19
Monday to Friday (7pm to 9pm) Weekends & public holidays (11am to 1pm & 6pm to 8pm)
17 Dec ‘19 –23 Dec ‘19
For updates, check facebook.com/PharmaGuide
24 Dec ‘19 – 30 Dec ‘19
31 Dec ‘19 –06 Jan ‘20
Mill Pharmacy
21/21a City Mill Lane 200 50554
Wesley Pharmacy
229b Main Street 200 67567
Crown Pharmacy
4 Casemates Square 200 78598
Trafalgar West One
Unit G1 Eurotowers 200 44406
Valmar Pharmacy Europort 1.0.08 Eurotowers 200 63868
CHESS PUZZLE ANSWER: 1 - Qxh1check, 2 - Kxh1 Bxf3 double check, 3 - Kg1 Rh1 checkmate
90
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
information
FLIGHT SCHEDULE DECEMBER 2019 DAY
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
FLIGHT NO.
AIRLINE
FROM
ARRIVES
FLIGHT NO. DEPARTS
TO
EZY8901
easyJet
Gatwick
10:55
EZY8902
11:30
Gatwick
BA490
British Airways
Heathrow
16:30
BA491
17:30
Heathrow
EZ8901
easyJet
Gatwick
10:55
EZ8902
11:30
Gatwick
EZY2245
easyJet
Luton
15:55
EZY2246
16:30
Luton
BA490
British Airways
Heathrow
16:30
BA491
19:20
Heathrow
EZY6299
easyJet
Bristol
19:20
EZY6300
20:00
Bristol
EZY8901
easyJet
Gatwick
10:55
EZY8902
11:30
Gatwick
BA490
Britsh Airways
Heathrow
16:30
BA491
17:20
Heathrow
EZY1963
easyJet
Manchester
16:55
EZY1964
17:35
Manchester
EZY8901
easyJet
Gatwick
10:55
EZY8902
11:30
Gatwick
BA490
British Airways
Heathrow
10:55
BA491
11:30
Heathrow
EZ6299
easyJet
Bristol
16:30
EZ6300
17:15
Bristol
EZ1963
easyJet
Manchester
19:55
EZ1964
20:35
Tangier
EZY8901
easyJet
Gatwick
10:55
EZY8902
11:30
Gatwick
BA490
British Airways
Heathrow
16:30
BA491
17:15
Heathrow
BA2662
British Airways
Gatwick
20:30
BA2663
21:40
Gatwick
EZY8905
easyJet
Gatwick
20:35
EZY8906
21:05
Gatwick
EZY2245
easyJet
Luton
10:55
EZY2246
11:30
Luton
EZY8901
easyJet
Gatwick
11:50
EZY8902
12:25
Gatwick
BA492
British Aiways
Heathrow
14:25
BA493
15:15
Heathrow
BA490
British Airways
Heathrow
16:20
BA491
17:20
Heathrow
EZY6299
easyJet
Bristol
10:50
EZY6300
11:25
Bristol
EZY8901
easyJet
Gatwick
11:10
EAZY8902
11:45
Gatwick
EZY1963
easyJet
Manchester
11:25
EZY1964
11:00
Manchester
BA492
British Airways
Heathrow
14:25
BA493
15:15
Heathrow
BA490
British Aiways
Heathrow
16:30
BA491
17:30
Heathrow
AT990
Royal Air Maroc
Tangier
19:25
AT991
20:05
Tangier
This schedule is correct at time of print. For up to date details and changes visit www.gibraltarairport.gi GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
91
R U N W A Y
Victoria Stadium
3
4
REFERENDUM HOUSE ←→ SOUTH BARRACKS
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2019
Market Place loop (Eastbound)
http://www.gibraltarbuscompany.gi
Routes operated by
BOTH WORLDS ←→ ROSIA
Rosia loop (Northbound)
MARKET PLACE ←→ EUROPA POINT
3
Midtown loop (Southbound) Midtown loop (Northbound)
Ocean Village
Glacis Kiosk
WILLIS’s ROAD
MOUNT ALVERNIA ←→ ORANGE BASTION
AIRPORT/FRONTIER ←→ TRAFALGAR
EUROTOWERS ←→ ROSIA
http://citibus.gi
H
Bishop Canilla House
PLACES OF INTEREST
Coach Park
Cable Car
Airport
Lighthouse
Cathedral
Museum
BI
Taxis
Seaport
Castle
Beach
Stadium
Trafalgar Cemetery
QUEENSWAY
King’s Wharf
Queensway Quay
Referendum Gates
MAIN STREET
Commonwealth Park
Mid-Harbour Estate
Europort Building 8
A AN RU CA D OP A SH RO
Edinburgh House
58
10
PRINCE EDWARDS ROAD
Eliott’s Way
48 BOTH WORLDS
ROSIA ROAD
Alameda Governor’s House Meadow House Victoria House
H KS RO AD
BA RR AC
Mount Pleasant
3
New Harbours
Cumberland Jumpers Road Building
South Gates
New Mole House
Garrison Gym
© VK (2018)
ce ur So
Gibraltar Bus Network
rg p.o ma et tre ns pe O :
Rosia Plaza
North Gorge
Eliott’s Battery
March 2019 version : correct at time of going to print
Map of Gibraltar
University of Gibraltar
EUROPA POINT
2
Schematic Diagram of Bus Network (not to scale)
Buena Vista
Mosque
BUS NETWORK
GIBRALTAR
9 ROSIA ROSIA 4
Brympton
EUROPA ROAD
SOUTH BARRACKS
SOUTH PAVILION ROAD
St. Joseph’s School
MOUNT ALVERNIA
Schomberg
SO UT
Shorthorn Farm
7
R e s e r v e
Rock Old Hotel Casino
RED SANDS ROAD
Lower Flat Bastion Rd Wilson’s Gardiner’s Ramp Road
Morello’s Ramp
TRAFALGAR Convent Place
Blackstrap Cove
N a t u r e
FLAT BASTION ROAD
Sacred Heart Church
Flat Bastion Rd
R o c k
Caleta Hotel
RECLAMATION Cathedral ROAD Square
King’s Bastion
Arengo’s Palace
PORT St. Bernard’s EURO Hospital GASA Swimming Pool
ROAD
Varyl Begg Estate
MONTAGU GARDENS
9
British War Memorial
LINE WALL ROAD
BOTH WORLDS ←→ RECLAMATION ROAD
Artillery Arms
WILLIS’s ROAD
MAIN STREET MAIN STREET
Moorish Castle Estate
AIRPORT/FRONTIER ←→ RECLAMATION ROAD
Albert Risso House
Sir William Jackson Grove
Waterport Road
QUEENSWAY
Orange Bastion
Fishmarket Steps
1
William’s Way
U p p e r
SIR HERBERT MILES ROAD
1 2 MARKET PLACE
CASEMATES
Routes operated by
10
9
8
7
5
Notre Dame School
Faulknor House
Constitution House
REFERENDUM HOUSE
WINSTON CHURCHILL AVENUE
Park & Ride
MARKET PLACE ←→ WILLIS’S ROAD
R U N W A Y
2
1
BUS ROUTES
5 10
AIRPORT/ FRONTIER
DEVIL’S TOWER RO AD
St. Theresa’s Church
GLACIS ROAD
Eastern Beach
CORRAL ROAD
WATERPORT ROAD
C A R C A B L E
Catalan Bay
N
92
coffee time CROSSWORD 1
2
3
4
4
5
6
7
8 8
9 10 11
12
10 2
1
13
14
14
15
7
16
17 18
6
17
19
20
21
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Clothed (7)
1. One of Santa’s reindeer (5)
8. Irish town in Westmeath famous for a castle (7) 9. Sports fans’ wave; from Yucatan (7)
3. Music lover of the 1950s/60s (4,3,6)
10. Small wood (7)
4. One of Santa’s reindeer (6)
11. Pacific island country (5)
5. Greeting which is a sequel to « A merry Christmas » (1,5,3,4)
13. Sort of person who is socially inept by knows about e.g. computers (5,4) 15. Revered usually because of experience (9) 18. Hen party attendees (5) 21. The red-nosed reindeer (7)
22
22. Salve for the optical organ (7)
23 24
23. Religious festivals in spring (7)
O S 9
C
K
3
E
S
X
S
C O N
C
E
A
11
S
S
1
S M S
T O O P
13
15
D
12
E O U
2
S
14
E
16
S L
13
10
S
4
S
4
C
8
A Q L
8
E
O
N
2
I
I S
17
O O S S
S
94
R
S
I
C
R
S
A
17. Old-fashioned request or command (6)
Y
I 22
S H A D
18
Y A S
S
6
P
A
S
S
19
C H
O
S
H A N
T
I
S
O S
G
S
S
X
P
O
I
T
L
5
4
4
5
8 2
3 7
1
P
20
T
6
9
4
17
T E
9
7
A
24
1
THE WINNER IS:
E
S W
3
1
T 14
T
T
S
A
F
S
E T
O W S
D
O U
A
I
E
7
H
A M P
V
I
Z O N
G A M
R
C
I
N R M P
P
U E
6
R M R
I
O S
S
S
L
23
C
R
S
H
5
A
10
O R
21
16. Culture of not being 1 across (6)
7
5
L
W R O N G
November Answers.
N
O
K
14. Christmas trees might be this wood (4)
SUDOKU
Either SNAP and SEND your completed crossword to editor@thegibraltarmagazine.com or RETURN TO THE CLIPPER by 20 th December. 2
12. How many times in royal David’s city? (4)
20. Backs of the neck (5)
lunch for two at
I
7. Composed (6)
19. Cryptic method of communicating; fictional detective (5)
& YOU COULD WIN
D
6. System of administration; insurance contract (6)
15. Divisions of carols for example (6)
24. They are unlikely to vote for Christmas! (7)
1
2. One of Santa’s reindeer (5)
Aurelio Garcia
8 3
5
7 5
9 7
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
coffee time CHESS COLUMN BY
GRANDMASTER RAY KEENE OBE Wizard of Riga Mikhail Tal, known as the Wizard of Riga, excelled at the most extreme tactical complications. One of his notorious sayings was that there are “two types of sacrifice, sound sacrifices and mine. “By this he was implying that, though his sacrifices might drag both combatants to the edge of a precipice, where the superior player should triumph, there was always the danger that the sacrifice (based more on intuition than calculation) might be exposed as a risk too far. White: Milko Bobotsov Black: Mikhail Tal Varna 1958 King’s Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 Nge2 c5 7 Be3 Nbd7 8 Qd2 a6 9 0-0-0 Far more cautious would be 9 d5 and 9 Rd1. The bold text move encourages Tal to do what he did best: sacrifice!
9 ... Qa5 10 Kb1 b5 11 Nd5 Nxd5 Notoriously and typically Tal, giving up his Queen in order to engage more closely with the White King. In fact, it was an idea proposed by Tals personal nemesis, the highly imaginative Soviet player Rashid Nezhmetdinov. Evidently, it came as a total shock to Bobotsov. 12 Qxa5 Nxe3 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
W________W árDbDW4kD] àDWDn0pgp] ßpDW0WDpD] Þ!p0WDWDW] ÝWDP)PDWD] ÜDWDWhPDW] ÛP)WDNDP)] ÚDKDRDBDR] WÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈW “Black gets great compensation for his queen. As well as two pieces he will pick up at least one more pawn. Meanwhile his unopposed dark-squared bishop rules its diagonal, which ends at White’s king and queenside lines will open rapidly, after which b2 may come under heavy assault.” (Cyrus Lakdawala). A perfect description by Everyman Publishers most prolific author. By the way, I believe I hold the world record for most published books by a chess author (202) but I sense that Cyrus is catching up!
around the white king. 21 Qd3
21 Nxc3 is of course refuted by 21 ... Nc4.
21 ... cxb2 22 Nd4 Bd7 23 Rd1 Rfc8 24 Bb3 Na4 25 Bxa4 Bxa4 26 Nb3 Rc3 27 Qxa6 Bxb3 Another overwhelming continuation of the attack is 27 ... Bb5 28 Qa7 Rbc8 29 Rd4 Rc2 30 Qb6 Bd3, and if 31 Rxd3 Rc1+ 32 Nxc1 bxc1Q mate.
W________W árhWDWDkD] à0WDqDpgW] ßbDW0WhpD] ÞDp0P4WDp] axb3 Rbc8 29 Qa3 Rc1+ 30 ÝWDWDWGW)] 28 Rxc1 Rxc1+ White resigns ÜDWHWDPHW] ÛP)W!BDPD] ÚDWIRDWDR] PUZZLE WÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈW
It is Black's move. How does Black win?
13 Rc1 Nxc4 14 Rxc4 bxc4 15 Nc1 The first misstep . More resilient is 15 Nf4 Rb8 16 Bxc4 Bxd4 17 b3 Ne5 18 Be2.
15 ... Rb8 16 Bxc4 Nb6 17 Bb3 Bxd4 18 Qd2 Bg7 19 Ne2 Hoping for Nc3, which blocks the pressure against Blacks Principal target on b2.
19 ... c4 20 Bc2 c3 Tal gives his opponent no time to regroup This hammer blow exposes the dangers looming
Answer on page 90 95
kid's korner
HELP SANTA! Can you help Santa reach his reindeer so he can make it on time for Christmas
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you spot the 5 differences?
96
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019
Stephens
WE'VE HIDDEN A
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE MAGAZINE...
CAN YOU FIND HIM? send us an email to
monkey@thegibraltarmagazine.com with his location by 20th December
AND YOU COULD WIN A HUNGRY MONKEY VOUCHER!!! Last month's winner:
Paul Anderson
Moore Stephens Gibraltar Trust and Company Management For more information please contact: enquiries@msgib.com or call us on +350 200 74518 First Rock Trustees Ltd, Suite 5 Watergardens 4, Waterport, Gibraltar is regulated by the Gibraltar FSC as a Professional Trustee.
www.msgib.com
hungrymonkey.gi | info@hungrymonkey.gi | +(350) 200 78814 /hungrymonkey.gi/
little dictionary
hubristic adjective excessively proud or selfconfident
e.g. His hubris stopped him from asking for directions, so he was late to the wedding. 29 City Mill Lane, Gibraltar +350 200 72470 / info@littleenglish.eu
YOUR AD GOES HERE 2020 discounts offered for signups made before January 2020. Get in touch to take advantage of fantastic deals! Your advert will be seen by everyone.
The Management and Staff wish you a
HAPPY CHRISTMAS &
a prosperous
NEW YEAR
www.gibintbank.gi | +350 (200) 13900 | Gibraltar International Bank Ltd, PO Box 1375, Ince’s House, 310 Main Street, Gibraltar GX11 1AA Gibraltar International Bank Limited is authorised and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. Company Registration Number 109679