The Gibraltar Magazine February 2020

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE February 2020 | Vol.25 #04

THE

CONFESSIONS OF A BEAUTY ADDICT

MISS GIBRALTAR

6 MONTHS ON

TRAVEL FEATURE: TRAVERSING TIBET

CLIMATE CHANGE & CARBON FOOTPRINTS

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY MENTAL HEALTH?

VALENTINES RECIPES:

CHURROS & HEARTY MEATLESS BURGERS

Indulge in our distinctive New Ă la carte menu, curated by award-winning Executive Chef, Alfred Rodriguez

3 Europa Road, Gibraltar Tel. +350 200 73000 www.rockhotelgibraltar.com

from the editor

FEBRUARY ISSUE EDITOR’S NOTE

H

appy February, everyone! The month de l’amour (or complaining about the amour), where it’s appropriate to recreate Christmas for a day by annihilating a box of chocolates and cracking out Love Actually for one last time. I hope you all made it through the 2347 days of January relatively unscathed. Here’s to shorter months, regular eating patterns, and payday… finally.

ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED? READ ON IF YOU DO!

Now, how’s that for a cover? This month we snatched up the stunning Celine Bolaños for a quick chat about how she’s getting on with her role as Miss Gibraltar, halfway through her reign (p. 33).

Hearts of Gibraltar is back, this time talking to the lovely Namarta Gulraj, whose healing energy is helping others to live their best life (p. 42). We also sit down with Gabriella Richardson, winner of the recent Singer Songwriter Competition, who reveals the inspiration behind her success and her plans for touring Leeds and beyond (p.

45).

It’s interesting how war literature can be written by people who have only experienced war through literature. And yet Jasmin, who grew up in Gibraltar and is currently on a Humanities course in Plymouth, has done just that - and beautifully so. Read her goosebump-inducing short story, “Trenches” over in Scene (p. 49).

In Fashion and Beauty, we’re making life that bit easier during these dreary months with advice on what to wear (on your body, and your face!). Blazers are in, jumpers are out, slap on some lippy, and shake it all about (p. 76).

And lastly, we have a guest writer in the form of Penelope, AKA ‘The Flyaway Girl’. This self-confessed “highly caffeinated Brit with a sometimes excessive sense of wanderlust” has amassed an impressive 133,000+ followers on Instagram, which showcases her travel photography.. See her collection of ‘Date Night’ ideas for around Gibraltar (p. 69)!

(Or, if you’d prefer a night in, head over to our recipe pages to try your hand at some heart-shaped churros and hearty meat-free burgers.)

That’s all for now folks; enjoy the issue!

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Listen on 99.2 FM & DAB+ on the Mobile App or Online at www.rockradio.gi

EDITOR: Sophie Clifton-Tucker editor@thegibraltarmagazine.com DESIGN: Justin Bautista design@thegibraltarmagazine.com REPORTER: Kristel Coombes Jeremy Gomez 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 Kerstin Andlaw Romina Mayani Elena Scialtiel Jess Leaper Richard Cartwright Sophie Clifton-Tucker Alex Orfila Peter Schirmer

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Julia Coelho Penelope Bielckus (The Flyaway Girl) Andrew Licudi 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

76 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

82

42

content 08 Tell Us Something Romantic!

36

B

09 What's On?

acaque arbary M

a Leaper

- © Alm

10 Around Town 12 News

BUSINESS 19 The Relocating Partner: Mitigating the Challenges 23 The A-Z of Business: How to Open Your Own Estate Agency 26 Working Minds: What Do You Mean by Mental Health?

28

LIFE

85 56

36 A Zookeeper’s Diary

28 The Eventful Life of an Aviation Fuels Specialist 33 Miss Gibraltar: 6 Months On 40 A Touch of Liz: The Miniaturist Confectioner

52 Bookish: Our Monthly Book Review 54 Poetry: A Traveller’s Lament

LEISURE 56 Travel: Traversing Tibet 61 Confessions of a Beauty Addict: Those Finishing Touches 65 Business is Business: From the Algarve to Spain and Morocco 69 Date Night Ideas: How to Spend Valentine’s Day 72 Wine: Rekindling the Romance 76 Fashion: Blazing Through Winter

42 Hearts of Gibraltar: Namarta Gulraj

REGULARS

SCENE

84 Guides and Information

45 All That Jazz: Singer Songwriter Winner, Gaby Richardson 49 Short Story: Trenches

82 Recipes: I Love Churros and Hearty No-Meat Burgers 86 Satire: Climate Change and Carbon Footprints 88 Clubs and Societies 89 #GibsGems 90 Schedules

Cover: Model: Celine Bolaños, Miss Gibraltar 2019 Photographer: Txiago Rogério Designer & Stylist: Ismael Lopez MUA: Deepak Ramchandani Hair Stylist: Karina Walker, Fringe Benefits GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

93 Coffee Time 96 Kids Korner

on't forget to find the D Hungry Monkey!

7

hello there

TELL US SOMETHING ROMANTIC!

Paulina Kozlowska, Events Coordinator at The Rock Hotel "Unbeknownst to him, she was flying back to the UK the next morning... But the RAF pilot and the nurse fell in love at first sight at a Rock Hotel Mess Ball.... The next morning, he took an RAF plane and followed her flight all the way home!

Many years after a beautiful life together (that began with a spectacular wedding at The Rock Hotel) their children came to stay on what would’ve been their anniversary, and scattered their ashes in the Bay of Gibraltar."

Jayney Teese,

Micky,

Reservation Agent at The Rock Hotel

Chief Mouser at The Rock Hotel

"My Valentine’s day started with an envelope containing a mysterious clue... My husband had organized a big treasure hunt around the house for me. Hidden with a few clues there were little chocolates, and the prize was new jewellery!

It was a different kind of surprise to flowers... a fun experience! "

"Without fail, Micky would curl up in his owner’s lap every morning on the sofa.

When he passed away, his real mum (the next door neighbour’s cat) came to take his place for the first time ever, as if she knew..."

Cupid, Juliet,

Romeo,

Faker of Death in Verona

Sword Fighter and Determined Lover in Verona

"A boyfriend appeared at my window, declaring his undying love for me… that was pretty romantic. Dad wasn’t too chuffed about it, though.."

"The most romantic thing I’ve done for someone is when I drank poison to join my one true love on the other side of the veil…"

8

Matchmaker, Mount Olympus "I’m very romantic. I’ve been bringing people together since the dawn of time with my love-tipped arrows. Love is beautiful! Except when I hit Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn… that didn’t go to plan. I’d also like to apologise for Kimye."

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

WHAT'S ON FEBRUARY 2020 SATURDAY 2ND FEBRUARY Gib Talks 2020 John Mackintosh Hall, 10:00am - 5:00pm, £5 GibTalks has a Facebook event page and a Twitter account (@gib_talks).

For further information please contact the Events Department on 20067236 or email: info@culture.gi.

TUESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY New Riga String Quartet The Convent Ballroom, 8pm, £20 Gibraltar Philharmonic Society Office, via email tgpsociety@gmail.com or by phone at +350 20072134 TUESDAY 11

TH

FEBRUARY

Senior's Tea for Two Calpe Rowing Club, 2pm A free monthly social event for senior citizens offering a chance to socialise over hot drinks, sandwiches and cakes For more information email seniorsteafortwo@gmail.com or call +350 54008999 MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2020 Invitation to all Gibraltarian artists who wish to take part in the longstanding Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. The submission deadline is 23:59 on Monday 17th February 2020. (See News section for further details.)

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

WEDNESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY TO SATURDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 18th Gibraltar International Dance Festival 2020 John Mackintosh Hall Theatre, 7pm - 10pm For further information please contact the Events Department on 20067236 or email: info@culture.gi.

Arts Society Talk: John Singer Sargent Garrison Library, 7:30pm - 9:00pm For more details contact janehart46@hotmail.com SATURDAY 22ND FEBRUARY St Andrews Craft and Collector's Fair St Andrews Church, Governors Parade, 10am -2pm.

For further information please call 54023166.

WEDNESDAY 26 FEBRUARY TO FRIDAY 6 MARCH Young Art Competition 2020 John Mackintosh Hall For further information please contact GCS Events Department on 20067236 or email: info@culture.gi Short Story Competition Open to Gibraltarians and residents of Gibraltar. (See News section for further details.)

Closing date Tuesday 10th March

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around town Singer Songwriter Competition @ ROTR © Mark Galliano Photography

Presentation Of Child Sized Cars to Hospital © HM Government of Gibraltar

10

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

around town

Gibraltar Tangier Exchange © HM Government of Gibraltar

Three Kings Cavalcade © HM Government of Gibraltar

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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news ADOPT A DOG Sweet little Julio is waiting for a home. He is loving and gentle and good with other dogs. He is too young to be growing up without the family he so desperately craves. Can you give Julio a home?

Just send us an email to info@ ainf.gi or visit our Facebook group Animals in Need Foundation Gibraltar.

UPDATE ON TRAVEL VISAS FOR THOSE INTENDING TO TRAVEL TO INDIA Holders of Gibraltar issued passports who intend to apply for a visa to visit India should not use the e-visa system.

Officials from Gibraltar House in London continue to work with the India House and with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to seek ways in which India’s e-visa system can be made available to applicants with Gibraltar passports.

However, for the immediate future, the previous visa application system should continue to be used: Gibraltar passport-holders should not apply for e-visas.”

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

news THE ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION 2020 Gibraltar Cultural Services is issuing an invitation to all Gibraltarian artists who wish to take part in the long-standing Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition.

Applications are now being invited by the Royal Academy of Art in London and in the first instance, artists would submit digital images of their artwork. The submission deadline is 23:59 on Monday 17th February 2020. Further information to submit artworks can be found on www.royalacademy. org.uk/summer-exhibition

Out of the approximate 12,000 works that the RA expect will be entered, only 4,000 will then qualify for the second round.

Any local artists who qualify for this final pre-selection, would then have to send the original artwork to the UK. GCS, on behalf of the Government, are committed to support these artists by helping with the cost of transporting the artworks to the UK. GCS looks forward to the participation of Gibraltar’s arts fraternity.

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 FEBRUARY 2020

13

news NEW SCHOOL BUS SERVICE (S2) AND EXTENDED ROUTE 7 SERVICE HOURS The Ministry of Business, Tourism and Transport is pleased to announce the introduction of a new school bus service, which came into operation on Monday 6 January 2020. The new service is in keeping with the recommendations of the Sustainable Traffic, Transport and parking Plan (STTPP) and has been introduced following customer feedback.

The School Bus, S2, will depart from Eliott’s Battery bus stop at 8:20am weekdays during school term time.

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It is hoped that this initiative may result in fewer car trips as this dedicated school bus route is exclusively for the use of schoolchildren. Buses on this route will carry a bus inspector to provide supervision.

The school bus route S2 will be as follows: Eliott’s Battery – Mosque – Europa Point – Buena Vista – North Gorge – Garrison Gym – Mount Pleasant – Shorthorn Farm – Trafalgar (top) – Queensway Quay – Commonwealth Park – MidHarbour Estate (East) – Bishop Canilla House – Varyl Begg Estate – Sir William Jackson Grove and ends at Waterport.

For more information on this new scheme, please contact the Gibraltar Bus Company on 200 47622.

In addition to this new school bus service, Route 7 (Mount Alvernia) will have the service extended to 8:00pm on Monday to Fridays.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH Actively seeking individuals that suffer from depression and bipolar disorder for research into the formation of a community support group. Anonymity will be deeply respected. Please contact: jenny.b.designs@gmail.com.

Please note this potential group is for social and support purposes.

Please consult a professional for medical advice.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

news GIBRALTAR MAPS PROJECT The team at the Gibraltar Garrison Library, assisted by Cpl Tim Hammond, MOD’s Command Photographer, have embarked on a collaborative project with the aim of creating a digital archive of the Ordinance Survey maps of Gibraltar held at the Library.

The project came about when Cpl Hammond volunteered his services to the Library after a research enquiry led him to the maps. His passion for capturing images had him return to the Library shortly afterwards, ready to begin the arduous task of carefully recording each section of the maps. Cpl Hammond has also very skillfully composed a legend using a modern map of Gibraltar for reference, which a researcher can use to easily identify which section of Gibraltar they wish to focus on.

The archive is comprised of 53 Ordnance Survey maps from the late 19th to mid 20th century with each map providing details of geographical and landscape features of Gibraltar, including boundaries, buildings, recreational spaces, footpaths and roads. Importantly, these maps had formerly been used for operational purposes and therefore offer an additional layer of data which places their function within a significant historical context.

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 February

AND YOU COULD WIN A HUNGRY MONKEY VOUCHER!!!

Last month's winner:

Nick Smith

hungrymonkey.gi | info@hungrymonkey.gi | +(350) 200 78814 /hungrymonkey.gi/

public who may be interested in Gibraltar’s history and its changing landscape. The digital format not only ensures quick and easy online access but also protects the originals from excess contact and damage.

The map archive is available online via the Gibraltar Garrison Library website: www.ggl.gi.

For further details, please contact Chris Tavares on chris.tavares@ gibraltargarrisonlibrary.gi.

Each map has been carefully scanned by Cpl Hammond to capture the smallest detail in high definition. The maps, which are stored at the Garrison Library, will now be made even more accessible to members of the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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news ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIND AT THE GIBRALTAR GARRISON LIBRARY

exercise that became necessary to avoid the trunking of electrical cables on the stone and brick walls of a vaulted chamber.

The suggestion at present is that the recovered terracotta and limestone floor dates from c.

1800 – 1804, the period which saw the erection of the Garrison Library, but further research will be carried out given that the plot on which the Library sits may have been the site for an earlier building.

The original floor of the west facing side of the basement at the Garrison Library has been uncovered during the major restoration project taking place at the Library. The floor had been covered by a top layer of concrete, most likely laid during the mid-twentieth century as a means to render the floor level.

The floor, of terracotta blocks and limestone flagstones for support, only became visible after a small channel was opened along the concrete to carry electrical cabling from one end of the basement to the other; an

SHORT STORY COMPETITION Gibraltar Cultural Services in conjunction with the Gibraltar Chronicle and the Department of Education will hold a Short Story Competition as part of the Gibraltar Spring Festival 2020.

The competition is open to Gibraltarians and residents of Gibraltar who may submit one piece of work, in any subject.

There will be six categories as follows: A. School Years 4 to 5 (250 350 words) B. School Year 6 to 7 (250 350 words) 16

C. School Years 8 to 10 (450 550 words) D. School Years 11 to 13 (500 - 1000 words) E. Adults (must not exceed 1000 words) F. Best story in Spanish Language (must not exceed 1000 words) The winning entries will be printed in the Gibraltar Chronicle.

The overall winner will receive the Ministry of Culture prize of £1,000 and a trophy. Additionally, the winner in each category will receive a voucher and a pen kindly donated by the Gibraltar Chronicle, plus a trophy from the Ministry of Culture. The winners in the Adults and Best Story in Spanish language categories will receive a one year online digital

subscription to the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Entry forms and full conditions are available from: •

Schools and the Gibraltar College

•

The Department of Education, 23 Queensway

•

Gibraltar Cultural Services, 308 Main Street

•

and online on www.culture.gi

Works may be handed in at Gibraltar Cultural Services, John Mackintosh Hall, 308 Main Street between 9am to 4.30pm, and Monday to Friday.

The closing date for receipt of entries is Tuesday 10th March 2020.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

news THE VOICE OF YOUNG PEOPLE MEET THE MINISTER FOR YOUTH

very productive with further meetings soon to be arranged with other HM Government Departments and Ministries.

The Minister for Youth, the Hon Steven Linares recently met with the “Voice of Young People (VYP)” to discuss projects and initiatives, which VYP believe, are relevant to the youth in our community.

Projects discussed included exploring provisions for LGBTQ+ and the voting age change from 18 to 16.

The VYP felt the meeting was

Should you have an issue or concern and would like your voice to be heard, please come along to our drop in sessions on a Tuesday evenings from 5 – 7pm at the Youth Centre in Line Wall Road. The group also welcomes young people between the ages of 11 – 25 to join them on their journey, there is no criteria other than having an interest in improving and developing the

services which meet the needs for all young people in our community.

For any general information about the Gibraltar Youth Service or future events please contact Mark Zammit, Principal Youth Officer on mzammit@gibraltar. gov.gi or call 200 78637.

SENIORS TEA FOR TWO A Little English/B2 Projects initiative to help combat seniors' loneliness

Live M usic

BBQ

Music, hot & cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes & socialising.

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month, at 2pm.

Calpe Rowing Club seniorsteafortwo@gmail.com +350 54008999

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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PHILLIPS - WE ARE ALWAYS IN YOUR CORNER COMMERCIAL LAW - MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE - PERSONAL INJURY - FAMILY - EMPLOYMENT CRIMINAL DEFENCE - LANDLORD & TENANT - PUBLIC LAW - PROPERTY & CONVEYANCING - PRIVATE CLIENT

WWW.PHILLIPS.GI

business

THE RELOCATING PARTNER Supporting your loved ones during relocation.

T

he challenge of the relocating partner has been a growing topic in international mobility in recent years. The old cliché of the ‘trailing spouse’ is no longer applicable because of several drivers, such as the reduction of the financial attractiveness of mobility packages linked to costs savings initiatives, the ensuing

increased percentage of highly educated and professionally active partners contributing to the family income, and the growing percentage of Gen Y, aka ‘millennial’, employees for whom family happiness during international assignments is paramount.

Indeed, recent studies have

shown that the Number 1 reason for failed relocation assignment according to 71% of Corporates is an unhappy, unintegrated spouse in the host location.

An unhappy partner is not only the most common reason for a failed relocation assignment, it has also become the main concern of future mobile employees to

What are the most common reasons for a failed assignment?

Source: EY Relocating Partner Survey, 2018

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Partner is

Job

Employee

Children

Host Country

Safety /

Not Happy

Sa sfac on

Performance

Issues

Sa sfac on

Security

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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business accept an assignment across borders. Thanks to the increased transparency of social media and the availability of feedback from employees who have returned from assignments, future expats are more informed today than ever. The question is not different when considering working or non-working partners. Whatever the partner chooses to go abroad, an effective integration and a sense of being actively part of the assignment is absolutely crucial to the success of modern international assignments.

Source: EY Relocating Partner Survey, 2018

“When a spouse or partner gives up his or her job to follow an employee to a new location, we truly believe that a company should support and assist that employees’ partner to find employment in the new location.

This support will ensure the overall well-being of the couple and the employee as a whole.

Happy family, happy employee, is what we believe in,” says relocation specialist Ayelet Mamo Shay, author of the popular novel Relocation Darling Relocation! which was launched in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar is a small and very often unfamiliar place for many prospective employees, making the entire relocation proposition a

relatively ‘hard sell’. “Many people may know what to expect when relocating to places like Paris, New York, or Berlin, but Gibraltar is a complete enigma for them.

In Gibraltar, we often lack the critical mass of people necessary to operate various associations, clubs, courses and other social groups of like-minded people, which means the socialising and networking opportunities available to relocating spouses is fairly limited, especially if English is not their first language,” says Ayelet.

To assist relocating spouses, Benefit Business Solutions’ Relocation Services, has been

What are the most common reasons for not accep ng an interna onal assignment within your organiza on?

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Partner Unwilling to Move Because of Career Male

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Other Family Issues

Des na on Loca on Not A rac ve

Reloca ng Package Not A rac ve

Partner Unwilling to Move Not Because of Career

New Assignment Not in Line with Career Objec ves

Female

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

business Your partner support program has had a posi ve impact on the following Family Acclima on Assignment Acceptance Job Performance Successful Repatria on Do Not Know

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Source: EY Relocating Partner Survey, 2018

Gibraltar is a complete enigma for them. offering Spouse/Partner Relocation Assistance Package which includes a Relocation Hotline open to employees and their relocating family members, along with spouse and family members’ consultation regarding the relocation decision-making even before moving to Gibraltar and understanding the spouse’s needs. “We help spouses find new employment and assist employers with obtaining work permits. Alternatively, we can help relocating spouses and other family members in getting access to further education or voluntary programmes where immigration rules prohibit the employment of spouses or in cases when spouses have no desire to work,� adds Ayelet. “Time and again, our clients have seen the return on investment derived from our robust partner support offering – from the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

initial perception of and buyin to the assignment offer, to the level of engagement of the family in the assignment location.

Consideration of the full family dynamic is an imperative in the modern international assignment equation,� says Eran Shay.

Indeed, surveys have found that when asked about the Return on Investment (ROI) of investing in partner support benefits, 69% and 62% of Employers confirmed that their partner support program has had a positive impact on family acclimation and assignment acceptance respectively.

One noticeable change in the way international employers approach partner support is revealed through the way they define ‘partners’, which has evolved over time. While only a few years ago, most employers only recognised legal spouses as beneficiaries of any support offered, employers today, be it in Gibraltar or in many other countries, approach the notion of the term ‘partner’ in a much broader manner which reflects the sociological evolution of our societies: 78% of employers now recognise the partner in the broadest terms by including legally

married, as well as unmarried partners of both opposite and same gender.

The future looks bright for partner support, with most employers well-aware of the crucial role played by accompanying partners, and many even plan to increase their current relocating partner benefits. Going forward, most corporates will aim at improving communication with the partners, and improving visibility of partner support within their mobile workforce, as part of aspirations of being an ‘employer of choice’.

ERAN SHAY, Managing Director & AYELET MAMO SHAY, Business Development Director of Benefit Business Solutions Ltd. (+350) 200 73669 general@benefitgibraltar.com 21

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business

THE A-Z OF BUSINESS How to open your own estate agency.

B

eing an estate agent can be quite productive and profitable, provided you know the business inside out. And not only the business but the market or markets in which you are going to be active.

Being an agent in Gibraltar is fairly simple from a bureaucracy point of view. Doing it in Spain just across the border is a horse of an entirely different colour. Still a horse. But other regulations apply and the bureaucracy is quite different.

First and foremost, you should know your market well. If you want to be productive and successful you must know every corner of your area or jurisdiction where you intend to operate.

In property selling, the person behind is still of paramount importance. Technology has, like in many other businesses, replaced human resources, but an estate agent needs state-of-theart sales people. Whether you operate solo (which is perfectly possible) or you work along with a team is ultimately a matter of choice and depends on how big you want your agency to become. Normally a minimum of two people is required. A good option would be one who can produce the properties to sell via direct contact with developers GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

or owners and the other person can concentrate in selling the stock which enters the agency’s books. There are some very handy software programs that make life a lot easier when your run an estate agency. Make sure you invest wisely and get the best money can buy.

An estate agent needs state-of-theart sales people.

Once you decide to start your own agency you should find adequate premises, or alternatively work online from home. This is not an easy decision to make as business does come up via both channels. If you look at the top estate agents in London, for example, you will see that names like Savills or Knight Frank still operate in the traditional way having shops and offices in the best addresses of London or any city worldwide. Both these companies were established in the late 1880s, so their track record goes back for a long time having done business in three different centuries. They are both

remarkable and highly successful.

Ideally you should get a shop on a good street and display your properties in your windows. In addition, a first-class website is essential so that you may obtain clients from different sources. The shop does not necessarily have to be huge. You may start off with a large reception room where one or two staff can run the sales and a separate office besides for you.

If the business flourishes you can always find a larger shop or even buy a shop which suits your needs.

Once your shop is leased you should decorate it and make sure it looks neat and modern.

Customers do not like to see old offices with untidy furniture.

Quite the opposite; you should try to impress people the minute they walk in. The first impression is what really counts and it definitely plays a major role when concluding deals.

Once your estate agency is up and running, make sure you get as many good properties as you possibly can into your books.

The more stock you have on offer the larger your chances of selling properties. Just as with any retail business - you must keep stocks updated. Make sure 23

business

Customers do not like old offices with untidy furniture.

you delete sold properties from your books and your website as there is nothing more frustrating than a customer getting keen on a particular deal and having to inform him that the property is gone. This happens fairly often but it should be avoided.

Getting the sole marketing rights to sell property which is priced at the right level is blissful but not 24

easy to obtain. This is particularly difficult in the early stages unless you are the partner, franchisee or representative of a wellknown London estate agent. You obviously gain in that respect, but at a certain cost since a part of your commission goes to the franchisor.

In the Costa del Sol agents are seeking more and more to obtain

exclusive marketing rights and once the agent secures this kind of contract, he normally takes a lot more interest placing it in professional agent’s websites like Resales Online or Infocasa. These are highly sophisticated sales tools and the properties reach millions of possible customers worldwide.

If the property being sold is a good one and it is priced at the right level it sells much quicker than you may think.

Then we have the difficult issue of the commission fee. In Gibraltar fees are low: 1% or 2%. More than 3% is not usual. This is a lot GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

business you travel to St Tropez in the Côte d’Azur or Marbella or Gibraltar that London Estate agent which bears the same name is solid and will surely work well to find your clients what they want. Not always the case with the rest. But obviously there is an important element of cost involved and each time a sale goes through they get a share of your fee.

lower than in any mediterranean jurisdiction where 5% or 6% is the norm. I have never quite understood why the rates are so low in Gibraltar. Maybe it is following the London pattern with regards to commission levels. This is normal to a certain degree but one must admit that property in London rotates at a completely different speed and prices are much higher than in Gibraltar. All this said, those rates seem to be the norm.

Personally, If I were to start my agency in Gibraltar I would try and work differently. If on the other hand you decide by any chance to base along the coast GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

then the commission fees are a lot larger. Double of what you get in Gibraltar but maybe the rotation is a little slower. It is a very broad subject since there are different factors to be considered and each area is different even if the type of business is similar.

Would a partnership or franchise work well in Gibraltar? It could certainly do but do not think for a second that this would run on its own. It does not. The amount of work implied is exactly the same as if it were your own estate agency created solely by yourself.

The only huge difference is that a good London name does attract a certain clientele. You know that if

An excellent way to start and to learn all the secrets is to work for a top estate agent for at least 1 to 2 years, and then if you feel this is your game you can start your own venture. This happens in any other business and it is a good way to learn. Beware of these new companies that will virtually charge you to work for them as part of your instruction period. I find this hilarious to say the least.

Stick to the traditional names.

The ones that have a proven track record and that have been around for a long time. Even if you work solely on commission which is usual along the coast, you will learn a great deal and probably do well simultaneously. The options are diverse and you should keep an open mind.

JORGE V.REIN PARLADE MBA Business Consultant +350 54045282 jorgeparlade@aol.com

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mental health at work

an Event by Auxilium

What do you mean by ‘mental health’?

T

he term 'mental health' has become a bit of a buzz phrase. It is hard to read a newspaper or listen to the news without mental health being mentioned. With the likes of Prince William and the Royal Family raising awareness of mental health through their initiative ‘Heads Together’, and celebrities speaking out about it, the subject is being normalised, resulting in an overall increased awareness. This is positive as more and more people talking about mental health is removing the stigma.

Some companies are also concerned about their employee’s mental health, and there are relevant awards up for grabs, all of which is helping to increase the awareness and the importance of the subject.

illness or psychological difficulties and struggles, which perhaps is the reason for the stigma that is still surrounding it at times. Yet the term ‘mental health’ refers to ‘the absence of illness of the mind’ and refers to a person that is ‘able to cope with the normal stresses of life, that can work productively and fruitfully'. This, to me sounds positive, but let’s take a look at it more closely.

‘Mental health’ refers to ‘the absence of illness of the mind'.

But what are we actually referring to when we talk about mental health? Is it anxiety, depression, mental breakdowns, or is it wellbeing?

If we were to break down the broad area the term mental health is referring to, we could view it as a spectrum that each person moves along throughout their lives, sliding back and forth as they face challenges and gain clarity and insights.

The term ‘mental health’ is often used when talking about mental

On the next page is a simplified diagram.

26

One side of the spectrum is mental illness, which includes clinical diagnosis and the other end of the spectrum is complete wellbeing, peace of mind and happiness. In between is a whole array of being-states which constantly change either significantly or minutely, from year to year, month to month, day to day or moment to moment.

Every human being experiences what they mentally process from one moment to the next, which is subject to constant and never ending change. You may go from a low-feeling state to a high-feeling state within moments, which is perfectly exemplified and easily observed in the mood shifts of young children.

A child can go from complete frustration and anger from not getting an ice cream, to total excitement and joy as their attention shifts to something else interesting such as a playground, sliding back and forth on the spectrum all in a moments time.

This displays perfect mental health and wellbeing that each and every person is born with and GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

mental health at work GROW / EVOLVE

Wellbeing

Thriving

has the capacity to access.

Throughout a person’s life it may be more difficult to access mental wellbeing at times, and depending on where that person is on the spectrum at that moment in time, interventions may differ and can range from clinical support when on the mental ill health

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." - albert einstein

Mental

Mental

Health

Illness

Being OK

Not Being OK

You may be proactive in your approach to stay on the wellbeing side of the spectrum, or working on restoring access to your natural wellbeing. Either way, it is an opportunity to grow and evolve - you choose.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” - Albert Einstein If you consider that each and every individual is born with perfect mental health and wellbeing, it becomes clear that each and every one has the capacity to stay and/or return to mental health and wellbeing.

side of the spectrum, to coaching or other personal development interventions when on the wellbeing end of the spectrum.

It is encouraging to see so many employers choosing to support their people’s mental wellbeing in providing access to resources to create positive change, yet it is each person’s responsibility to take care of their own mental wellbeing.

Mental health, wellbeing, or whatever you may want to call it is a lifelong journey that everyone is taking whether you are aware of it or not.

Working Minds believes firmly in supporting people to develop ways to access and maintain their wellbeing and enable them to continuously grow and evolve to

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

live their best life.

Shifting our perspective on this subject to seeing it as an opportunity and as something that everyone is capable of accessing is fundamental to creating a better life, a better workforce, a better community and a better world.

To start the process, you may find it useful to bring awareness to where you consider you may be on the spectrum right now, and notice how this can shift from moment to moment.

Kerstin Andlaw www.auxiliumctc.com Kerstin Andlaw is an Executive, Performance and Wellbeing Coach, mindfulness facilitator and founder of Auxilium CTC - a Performance and Wellbeing Consultancy and founder of Working Minds.

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life

THE EVENTFUL LIFE OF AN AVIATION FUELS SPECIALIST

When you’re good at what you do and you retire, there’s always the possibility you’re instantly awarded with a trip to the Bahamas... Not exactly to sun yourself on the beach, no, but to stay on with the firm as a consultant, continue to receive decent remuneration and then, relax and enjoy the white sands and clear blue water... Not bad, eh?!

BY RICHARD CARTWRIGHT

B

ut holding a variety of top jobs with one of the world’s top fuel providers, Shell, is a little distant from a life of fun and games.

“Like being shot at whilst flying a Cessna plane – which I only found out about when I landed – far from fun, to recall just one incident,” Paul informs me, “This was during the war in Biafra, Nigeria in the 1960s and during all my years with Shell there were other unusual and sometimes awkward experiences.”

Paul Baker, 87, started his working life like many of us did on the Rock, in HM Dockyard. He was a marine engineering apprentice. I remember when I started I earned twelve shillings and six pence in old currency, a week! Even as far back as then he seemed to be 28

hanging around danger zones.

“I was working on a Royal Navy frigate. I went to the workshop for a spare part when a blast sent me flying to other end of the building, luckily, unscathed... The ammunition ship Bedenham blew up!”

"Like being shot at whilst flying a Cessna plane – far from fun."

Paul’s hardly ‘incident free’ working life provided more near misses as he moved on. He left the Dockyard and joined Shell

in employment reminiscent of today’s Bay of Gibraltar activities.

“Yes, I became 2nd Engineer on one of seven Shell tankers anchored in the bay, the SS Ficus, offering bunkers to ships in the early 50s sailing in and out of the Mediterranean delivering food and supplies to war torn countries known as the ‘US Marshall Plan’ during the aftermath of WW2.”

During that decade he came ashore and became Airport Superintendant. “Travelling to work one day, the barrier came down at the runway without warning. A Canadian plane made an emergency landing and hit a Spanish cyclist just ahead of me that managed to get through just as the barrier closed. He was hit and body parts landed in front of my car! It was an incredible and unfortunate accident that I am GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

history Paul Baker

"AA Canadian Canadian plane planemade madean an emergency emergencylanding landing and andhit hitaaSpanish Spanish cyclist." cyclist sure many sadly remember.”

The early 60s saw Shell send Paul to the African continent with his wife and two children where they experienced no less than four coups d'état! “I was sent to Lagos Airport in Nigeria and inspected airports all over the country. On one occasion I was trapped at the airport under rebel control.

My wife and children were at home in an area controlled by the Government! I drove into the airport and met a rebel Air Force major who provided my men with a jeep and armed escort to fuel a BOAC aircraft for takeoff.

The airline engineer with me had a near escape... he was told to stop but took no notice... shots were fired that whizzed past me and closer to him which made him stop in his tracks: He turned white!”

Travel is the name of the game for Paul and the family. Australia and that part of the world came next in the late 60s and 70s. As an Administrative Assistant in Melbourne, he travelled around inspecting airports - for Shell of course - then onto Papua New Guinea, The Solomon Islands and other surrounding islands, taking annual leave in New Zealand and The Philippines: “Scuba diving around sharks was never a problem. On another dive, after there had been an earthquake on the Solomon Islands, a wartime GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Japanese ship lying on the beach had moved by the tremor and inside the hold I found a wooden box with bullets and sake cups, some of which I still have at home.”

1980 saw Paul take on a more, ‘mundane job’ in Shell’s Head Office in London, responsible for advising Shell’s operations in much of the African continent: The Seychelles, Mauritius, West and Central Africa and The Maghreb countries of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco in the north... But

it didn’t end there. Paul speaks French, which helped in many of those countries, but then Spanish was put to good use too when a voice from above asked, “Paul, can you pop over to South America and do some operational audits for us?”

“That’s right, and that resulted in my visiting every country in Central and South America except Ecuador. I was also on loan to a government company in Caracas Venezuela, as an Aviation Advisor, visiting the Antilles islands 29

history Bay and offering bunkers just like today - © Luis Photos

also!” Constantly on the move, Paul has also spent time in the Scandinavian countries and Spain, even running a course in Gibraltar.

Back to London for a few months but his French and his aviation advice took him back to Africa in the mid 80s to Côte d’Ivoire, responsible for the thirteen Francophone countries in West Africa and The Gambia.

“Being constantly on the go meant the family stayed in the UK coming over during school holidays to Abidjan. It was 1989, and I finally retired!” But instead of the customary golden watch, he was given an airline ticket to the Bahamas for more work in the Caribbean Islands as a consultant dishing out more aviation advice.

30

In the mid-90s Paul Baker the ‘Gibraltarian workhorse’ returned to the African continent yet again, for training courses, “And at last my final job as a consultant took me to Hong Kong to help set up the fuelling facilities at the new airport. I spent a year there and visited China, Tibet and Indonesia.” Finally, he’s now retired and thanks his wife and family for being so patient and accommodating, “Yes, I must also say I could not have done this job without my family’s kind understanding, especially the hardships my wife has had to put up with without complaint, following me around the world with two and later four children in tow. It’s important to point out also the tolerant attitude which has always existed on the Rock which has certainly helped me work amongst so many of the

world’s cultures and religions without encountering a single problem.”

Paul Baker is probably our most travelled individual and the fact he eventually retired and claimed that, at 87, was “past [his] sell by date”, turned out to be one big joke! He continued to travel; since retirement he’s been to Russia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, India, Nepal, the US, Japan, Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii, Canada, all over Europe and more.

But he looks good in his 80s and shows no sign of stopping… or does he now take it easy relaxing at home?

“Nope. You’ve heard of Maynmar, the former Burma? Well that’s next, and soon!”

Paul Baker says if he’d not become a fuel specialist, he would have liked to have been a geologist.

Well, he’s only an octogenarian…

Watch this space!

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

`Ficus’ in the 50s and 60s there there seven shell tankers anchored in the

"Scuba diving around sharks was never a problem."

By then he certainly deserved a break. Two holiday relief trips were offered to Qatar and Dubai.

Unsurprisingly, he took them too!

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spotlight

MISS GIBRALTAR: 6 MONTHS ON We sit down with Celine Bolaños, to see how she’s getting on 6 months after being crowned Miss Gibraltar.

BY SOPHIE CLIFTON-TUCKER

H

I CELINE! HOW IS YOUR REIGN AS MISS GIBRALTAR GOING SO FAR?

If I could describe my reign so far in one word, it would be: hectic. As soon as I won, I’ve had non-stop events, charity work, interviews and all the prep for Miss World (which was a lot). Juggling all of this with my job and my personal life has been tough, I’m not going to deny that, but nonetheless it has been extremely rewarding.

"I wish to do as much as I can in order to get Gibraltar talking on this topic."

Knowing I have young girls that may look up to me, people who have reached out to me to thank me for what I have done, or said because they have felt that they could relate, is one of the most rewarding feelings I have felt to date.

WHAT MADE YOU ENTER THE MISS GIBRALTAR PAGEANT TO BEGIN WITH, AND WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU GAINED ALONG THE WAY? To be honest, I never in a million years ever thought I would enter Miss Gibraltar. I didn’t feel like it was for me, not that there’s anything wrong with it, but I just didn’t think that it was on the cards for me. It was a literal last-minute decision, and what prompted me to go for it is the fact that it could potentially open up a lot of doors

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

for myself in the future. I’m young and I’m at an age where the more doors I go knocking on now, the more opportunities I’ll have in the future.

WHAT HAVE YOU HAD TO DO AS PART OF YOUR NEW ROLE SO FAR? I get invited to a lot of charity events and it’s fun to take part in them. However, my main focus (which was my ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ choice at Miss World) is mental health. And so I wish to do as much as I can in order to get Gibraltar talking on this topic.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT MISS WORLD! Miss World, much like my reign,

33

spotlight was very hectic. It definitely pushed limits and made me learn a lot about myself that perhaps before I wasn’t aware of. I’m definitely not the same person coming back from Miss World as I was when I went.

I feel as though it’s taught me my biggest lesson yet, and that is to be so confident in who I am as a person, to not let the opinion of others rock me.

AND FINALLY, WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR ANY GIRLS LOOKING TO ENTER MISS GIBRALTAR IN FUTURE? My advice for any girls looking to enter Miss Gibraltar is to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s not easy, but nothing rewarding ever is. You are looking to become an ambassador for your country, and the reign may only last a year, but it’s what you do in that year that could potentially determine the rest of your life.

It’s not easy, but nothing rewarding ever is.

34

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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life

A ZOOKEEPERS DIARY Our monthly spotlight on the superstars at the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park… and their keepers!

BY JESS LEAPER

T

he welfare of the animals at the AWCP is of the upmost importance.

Our primary aim is to ensure the animals in our care are thriving. Contrary to popular belief, most zoos don’t want to see animals in captivity, but in many cases it is an increasingly important part of conserving species in the wild. Many extinctions have been evaded over the years through captive breeding in zoos and the skills learned through years of captive care for a variety of species will prove vital in the years to come, as habitats are destroyed the world over and many species are on the brink of extinction. The recent fires in important forests and habitats throughout the world have shown that for some species, time may be limited and a species’ conservation status can change almost overnight.

36

Koalas were listed as ‘Vulnerable’ before last year, but now are most probably ‘Endangered’ or more devastatingly, ‘Functionally Extinct’ due to the fires in Australia.

Many of the species at the AWCP have been rescued from the illegal (or legal) pet trade or from a probable life in a laboratory or worse; the majority of these species cannot be returned to the wild. The AWCP is working on projects and campaigns to increase awareness of the need to preserve and reinstate habitats all over the world. This year, through the ‘Habits for Habitats’ campaign, launched last year, the AWCP and GBG will be working with local schools to help do just that. The Just One Tree initiative was created in the UK but works all over the world to plant trees and reforest areas.

-© Macaque Barbary

aper Alma Le

On the 14th of February this year, schools in Gibraltar will be holding a ‘Green Uniform Day’.

Students will donate £1 towards tree planting in important areas, not only throughout the world but also here in Gibraltar. There is now a local initiative, ‘TREE for LIFE’, that aims to plant trees throughout Gibraltar. Each school will also have the chance to choose and plant a tree in Gibraltar too.

If animals must be in captivity, we have a duty to provide the most stimulating and enriching and natural environment that we can, something the AWCP takes very seriously. Since joining the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquaria (BIAZA) in 2016, the AWCP staff have attended many workshops and conferences in UK zoos and Europe. One recent development within the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

life Margarida carrying out assessments with Mahomby to assist! - Š Nicola Campbell

PlĂĄcido has been at the AWCP since July last year. Most interns or work experience students will complete a research study or project during their time at the AWCP. Margarida has taken on a project on the overall management of the AWCP from the bottom up. A zoo vet would be required to have an understanding of every level of the zoo, in order to assess the general welfare of the animals.

Zoo vets also assist with general husbandry guidelines, diets and enclosure design in order to help the zoo to reach the highest standard of care for the animals.

Margarida has been primarily helping out with the day to day husbandry of the small primates, the Cotton-top tamarins, Common marmosets and the Brown and Ring-tailed lemurs.

This helps her to gain essential practical skills for captive care of animals but also helps the AWCP with its day-to-day running.

As well as the basic care and husbandry, Margarida has helped to expand the enrichment and animal training programs too, in order to make the lives of the animals more interesting and also more natural. Animals in the wild spend much of their daily time budget searching and foraging for food, enrichment devices are designed to make the animals work harder for their food and staves off boredom.

11 12 1 10 2 New Primate 9 3 Keeper, Nicola 8 4 Campbell has 7 6 5 been working

11 12 1 10 2 9 3 8 4 7 6 5

Association of Zoos & Aquaria is the development of a formalised Welfare Assessment that can be utilised by zoos to more formally assess the welfare of their animals. This tool can be useful in highlighting any welfare concerns within the collection. All zoos in the association also comply GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

with a strict set of regulations and undergo regular inspections but it is always possible for some welfare issues to go under the radar so this Welfare Assessment will be invaluable, especially for lager zoos with many species.

The AWCP vet student, Margarida

life Margarida weighing brown lemurs - Š Nicola Campbell

with Margarida to expand the training repertoire for the primates, working with them to ensure all animals are easily stationed for weighing every week, some individuals are very compliant, but others take a little persuasion and a lot of patience!

Nicola has worked in zoos in New Zealand, she has also spent time in Peru, carrying out data collection with wild South American primates. She also has a strong background in zoo management education and will be helping to further develop the AWCP’s

38

Education programme over the next few months.

Throughout her time at the park, Margarida has been diligently working on carrying out Welfare Assessments for every animal in the zoo. These will also be carried out by two more staff or volunteers in the coming months to gain a fair perspective on any issues raised. The

11 12 1 10 2 9 3 8 4 7 6 5

assessments will be vital in helping with future planning for the AWCP and the care of its inhabitants.

The AWCP at the New Year headcount had 139 animals and 60 species (not including feeder bugs, but even these have rights!).

Over the years, the management of the park has kept a close eye on any welfare concerns at the Park, most issues have been mild and easily dealt with. With just one-acre, concern has always been the lack of space at the AWCP, but clever design of enclosures, lots of enrichment and apparatus

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

life to stimulate the inhabitants can make up some of the deficit and all enclosures are within current guidelines for each species. The exciting tunnel project (taking place this year thanks to generous funding from GVC, Ocean Village, Playtech and The World Trade Centre) will also provide extra stimulation and opportunities for the majority of primates at the park.

One area of welfare concern for the staff at the Wildlife Park has always been the three female Barbary macaques. These macaques were brought to the AWCP in 2009 as temporary holding before they were to be re-homed to another zoo.

Their current enclosure was not designed for this species and is

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

the only enclosure that falls short of guidelines regarding size for the species. With free-ranging macaques just on the Upper Rock, it is not ideal to have this species in a smaller enclosure. Sadly, these females cannot be returned to the Upper Rock. Females live out their lives within their family groups and rarely integrate into another group. The AWCP has plans drawn up for a much larger and open enclosure adjacent to the park, but desperately requires funding to help make this a reality for these macaques. As an Endangered species in the wild and as flagship species for the park and for Gibraltar, it really is imperative that their welfare be considered a priority.

Over the years, the AWCP has

also become a popular tourist destination, maintaining its position as #2 of Things to do in Gibraltar on TripAdvisor for the second year running, at times reaching #1! This high rating is generally credited to the excellent care given to the animals by dedicated and friendly staff and volunteers. High standards in animal care are core ethics for the park and take precedence over all other aspects, this takes time and money (and a lot of creativity) on the part of the Keepers and Managers.

If you would like to find out more about the AWCP and its projects, please visit www.awcp.gi. If you would like to volunteer or find out how to donate, please contact us at info@awcp.gi.

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life

A TOUCH OF LIZ

The miniaturist confectioner of make-believe.

BY ELENA SCIALTIEL She describes herself as a ‘miniaturist’, and no definition can be more appropriate for the artist behind ‘A Touch of Liz’, the artisan boutique that crafts jewellery, ornaments and keepsakes out of polymer clay, specialising in yummy reproductions of cakes, gingerbread people, sweets and biscuits, looking exactly like the real ones, only smaller. Much smaller!

Lizanne Milan has always been a ‘crafty girl’ and clay was one of her favourite materials in school, but she’d never thought to turn it into artistry and profession, until ten years ago, when she was attracted to some modelling clay whilst on holiday. She bought it and fashioned it into a small cupcake. “It is ugly, in hindsight,” Liz says, “But I still treasure it as a memento of what started it all.”

One can reproduce virtually anything in polymer clay, but Liz opted for focusing on food, especially treats, even more so sweet treats, because they tend to be more colourful. However, she personally has a palate for savoury, so she’s also crafting hamburgers, hotdogs, and funky cinema popcorn – of which, more later.

Liz could have reproduced most of her sweets life-size, but she 40

wanted to go for the Honey I Shrunk the Treats look instead, and started working on miniature versions of chocolate-chip cookies, rainbow lollipops, glazed doughnuts and cake wedges, as stand-alone pieces, or more often as decorations for jewel boxes or costume jewellery and key rings.

Thus, A Touch of Liz was born, and she started marketing her products at local artisans’ fairs: “I have participated in the Covent Christmas Fair for a few years, and I belong to the Artisans’ Association spearheaded by Giorann Henshaw.”

"I still treasure it as a memento of what started it all."

She didn’t do the Christmas market at the Boulevard, because, given the reduced size of her merchandise, she’d have had to work around the clock to fill the windowsill of the standard wooden hut provided; her motto is always quality before quantity, so she likes to take it easy and dedicate each of her pieces all the time and TLC they need.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

life I started mixing primary colours, black and white, or even better, using white base only and later painting it in acrylics or chalk,” Liz explains. “This is more timeconsuming, but allows me to add extra detail.” The result is often so realistic that her creations come with a warning about them not being edible!

At the Convent Fair, however, Liz enjoyed a table displaying a selection of her yummy creations, with particular attention to seasonal shapes like gingerbread men and candy canes, and even snowman pendants for the little ones. These were inspired by the congenial character from Disney’s franchise Frozen, whose blonde heroine Liz also reproduced on charms and key rings.

crafting poses, for example when she has to make the characteristic patterns on chocolate digestives, or the cracked texture of cookies.

For the first, she uses the wrong end of a match to indent rows of squares and portray the wafflelike surface, while for the second she uses crumpled foil as a mould.

"Give me a cup of tea, Netflix and a magnifying glass and I can model clay for hours!"

“One must always make sure not to infringe copyright laws with cartoons, and it applies to confectionery as well. For example, I have modified slightly my chocolate-and-vanilla round sandwich biscuits so that they don’t copy the patterns of any trademarked product available in supermarkets. On the other hand, I obtained permission to make a miniature replica of a tiered wedding cake from local bakery Piece of Cake and I kept it true to the tiniest detail, including the icing swirls. To achieve this, I made a tiny piping bag from the foil bottom of a tea-light and I filled it with clay to squeeze out as frosting.”

Her famous cinema popcorn is painstakingly fashioned and painted one kernel at the time, then arranged in the little container, painted and varnished accordingly. This is a popular item in her catalogue and she is quite fond of it, as well as proud of the way she is able to shape different types of popped kernels, to keep the end result realistic.

The devil is in the detail, when Liz needs to muster all her ingenuity to solve the challenge that scale

“Polymer clay is available in many colours, but I hardly ever find the right colour I had in mind so

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Despite ‘plastic’ food remaining her first love, she is exploring other styles and is doing quite well with teddy bears for weddings and anniversaries, little Buddhist monks for wisdom and mindfulness, cute cartoon ponies with curly manes, and the quirky bookworm bookmark, featuring a bespectacled pea-coloured pea-sized worm sitting on a book, eyes wide open in curious wonder.

“This was a commission for a gift to someone who loves reading, and I just had this vision of a geeky-cute worm.”

Liz’s activity is organised like a proper business, and she works at home 9 to 5 (or at least 3:30, when her kids get home from school) although sometimes inspiration strikes late at night: “Give me a cup of tea, Netflix series on my tablet playing in the background, and a magnifying glass and I can model clay for hours on end!”

So, is there anything she wouldn’t reproduce in clay? “Well, at the moment I am reluctant to accept hen-night commissions, you know… the naughty bits…”

Check out Liz’s Facebook page ‘A Touch of Liz’ for updates on her seasonal products, including her new Valentine’s and Mothering Sunday suggestions.

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life

HEARTS OF GIBRALTAR Talking to Namarta Gulraj.

BY ROMINA MAYANI NANKANI, CYE-CYL

Namarta comes from an entrepreneurial background and believed that one can be anything one wishes to be. And how things transpired for her, makes you think about how life is full of surprises.

"From the age of four I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I was fascinated by the medical world and the prospect of helping people. It was a definite goal, up until my GCSE's where I struggled with dissecting in Biology. This really disheartened me! Instead I embarked on a career as a Speech and Language Therapist, specialising in Acquired Neurological Disorders."

And then, low and behold, life took her on another road.

"I met Les Flitcroft in 2014. Les 42

is Director of the Institute for Pranic Healing UK & Ireland, Gibraltar and the Costa del Sol. I was drawn to his workshop following a nasty fall resulting in a tailbone injury. I could not believe it when after merely one healing session; I could not feel any pain. And this coming from a skeptic at the time! I was intrigued! I went on to learn more on what Pranic Healing was all about only to discover how it worked with energy in treating physical, emotional and mental health issues."

"I took many courses, retook them and saw how amazing the results were. As I began treating people with various conditions, including psychological issues, I was in awe of what seemed like miraculous results. Being service-driven from a young age, Pranic Healing has now become my purpose, helping people overcome and work through anything they were struggling with."

I asked her, how has it helped her to live her life differently? “Pranic Healing is not only about healing others but also transforming your own self. I believe whatever comes to you

Namarta Gulraj

W

e often get so caught up with life that we seem to overlook so much that goes on around us, including the people who contribute to making this world a better place, each in different ways. One of the many people whose dedication and perseverance has always amazed me is Namarta Gulraj.

Have a read... you will definitely be intrigued!

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

is what you are radiating. Like a boomerang effect! Once I realised everything was energy, I made changes to my daily life. I wake up feeling gratitude and not getting irritated by the tasks of the day.

With tools and techniques taught at Pranic Healing, you begin to change the energy from within.

Everyone has the ability to do so."

Namarta is an instructor for the Institute of Pranic Healing Gibraltar and Costa Del Sol. She will be facilitating a 2-day Self Development Pranic Healing Level 1 Course on 3rd and 4th March 2020. For more info please contact Namarta on 58009578, or email: namarta@ ukpranichealing.co.uk.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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JAZZ

scene

ALL THAT Local songwriter Gabriella tours Leeds and beyond.

BY ELENA SCIALTIEL

T

he winner of the latest Singer Songwriter Competition held at the Rock on the Rock Club on the last Saturday of the year, as tradition wants, tells us about the inspiration behind her success and her forthcoming projects.

“This was the third time I entered the competition. Last year I came third, so I entered again for fun, but I wasn’t expecting to win this year. When my name was called out, it took a couple of seconds for my brain to compute it was actually me, and I remained seated for a bit longer than expected,” Gabriella Richardson describes her moment in the limelight. “The decision to enter was a spontaneous one, as I was in Gibraltar for the holidays and hadn’t much else planned, so I thought it would be nice to perform my music back home.”

As a music student, Gaby has written hundreds of songs, both for her coursework and fore her self-titled seven-piece band, but she selected the ones that mean the most to her and she felt could best represent her GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

artistic personality when played acoustically without a band backup.

“Band sound is not better than acoustic, it is just fuller, and this makes a big difference in delivery, especially to large crowds. Here, I wanted to perform tracks featuring momentous lyrics you want to listen to, word by word, and melodies than can be best conveyed through voice and guitar only.”

"It took a couple of seconds for my brain to compute it was me."

Lyrics of course carry their weight in the adjudication process, as they are submitted to the panel before the competition for the judges to familiarise with them.

“Of course, the criteria for winning also lie in presentation, execution, stage presence, melody

and so on, but I was told by the adjudicators that I was the ‘whole package’, that’s why they picked me. And I feel this is the best compliment,” she says.

In her early twenties and already blessed with a mature nuanced voice, a clear vision of her music style and the poetic expression of a songstress, Gaby claims that her lyrics reflect her life experiences, and listening to her songs is like reading pages of her diary, a philosophy that adds to the intimate and emotionally involving atmosphere of her gigs.

She performed How to Say Goodbye an R’n’B jazzy piece about a personal situation becoming unsustainable she needed to let go of, and Late at Night, a more easy-listening poppy piece about someone making her feel safe in the wee hours.

Competition rules required a cover too, so she played Amy Winehouse, personalising it a little. “Amy is my idol. I don’t want to copy her, even if my black eyeliner flick may say otherwise,” 45

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she giggles. “I admire her for being so unapologetically herself and this is what I aspire to be on stage. Put myself across my music and hopefully fans will appreciate that.”

Late at night is when she and her band come up with the best ideas: “We crash on the couch with cheese and wine, and we jam. I compose most music and lyrics.” Inspiration strikes everywhere, and thankfully she carries her phone with her all the time to record her humming new lyrics as soon as they surface to consciousness. “I keep my guitar next to my bed, as I often wake up struck with an idea,” she says, “but sometimes a song springs to mind while I am busy with something else. How to Say Goodbye came to me while I was getting ready to leave the house for a meeting.”

Being late for an appointment is a small price to pay for creative 46

"I was told I was the ‘whole package." genius and Gaby’s entourage understands well that inspiration cannot be scheduled or corralled.

She is fortunate to count on like-minded friends: “My band consists of good friends. For me, it is important to have a personal connection with band members.

We must get along off stage to mesh together on stage. I am in several bands, where I play other people’s music and sing their lyrics, however my band is all about my own music, and we’re making ourselves known out there on the Leeds live music circuit.”

Her ensemble features her on vocals and guitar, and six friends on guitar, bass, drums, keyboard,

trumpet and sax for that truthful jazz feel she wants to promote as a lifestyle for a night out, rather than just a background soundtrack to clubbing.

Once they record their originals, they will be able to submit demos to festival organisers and hopefully will participate in some of the UK’s most iconic summer bashes. And of course, Gaby would be most honoured to take the local stage at the 2020 Gibraltar Musical Festival. Last year, her other band Sonic Blue was shortlisted in the pool of local acts to be selected by popular vote, but alas they didn’t make it.

Gaby is currently living and studying in Leeds for her degree, due in July, and hopes to stay on for her masters. She likes the hands-on aspect of her academic career, where she mostly composes music for a band scenario.

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"My mum’s old jeans will do just perfect."

She sees jazz as the handcraft artistry which for all instrumental and vocal parts are written individually and purposely, and performed live, on stage or at the recording studio, while pop is more computer-based nowadays.

The producer does most of the recording and arranging work, so she feels the two musical genres are evolving separately, and despite composing in both genres, she sides pretty much with the jazz renaissance.

Gaby started singing early – in the shower, of course! – and later she cultivated her passion with voice and piano lessons. “At about 16, I realised that, if I wanted to gig around, I needed to learn to play a portable instrument so I took guitar lessons. Nowadays, I own a GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

small guitar collection and it is my usual choice of accompaniment.”

She mentions a few tips to keep her voice in shipshape: starting and ending her day with tea, replacing sugar with honey, enjoying steam showers, drinking plenty of water, avoiding chocolate and coffee, which roughen up the voice, and staying away from central heating as much as possible. “I’d rather wrap up warm in a thick blanket and preserve the natural temperature and humidity around me, when possible.”

Looks are also important when you hop on stage: “I love 90s fashion and I tend to dress smart casual with a vintage twist to it.” Sneaking a shopping spree

between rehearsals and some cheeky closet raiding: “There are plenty of vintage shops in Leeds, but I am also happy with current fashion, as long as it bears a vintage flare, like high boots or corduroy jackets. My mum’s old jeans will do just perfect.”

Being a singer songwriter feels like living the dream, but Gaby is realistic about her ambition: “I am not saying I will make it big time in the industry solely as a singer, but I’d love to be a songwriter and compose for other musicians.

When I hear a song I like, I always check who wrote it, to give credit to them as well.”

But for now, Gaby’s riding the wave – or the vibe - and she’s planning to dedicate a few years of her life to being ‘the whole package’.

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prose

I

TRENCHES TRENCHES

have come to the realisation that I am dead. Maybe not ‘dead’ as we know it but I’m not air-breathing-water-drinking alive anymore. It’s been sixty-six days since I sort-of died. My name is Zachary Williams and, when I signed my youth away to war, I never considered that I wouldn’t reach my twenty-second birthday.

Britain, united with supposedly the strongest sense of patriotism ever seen, saw hundreds of thousands of brave, young men ready to fight for their country and leave their homes for the front lines. But the world does not work the way you have been led to believe it does.

We are fed lies constantly, made to believe the things we do are our own choices. Like signing up to the army, for example. We are psychologically manipulated to abide by the will of the men in charge of our countries, to put our lives on the line due to their supposed ‘wars’. The things I have experienced are not of this world. The things you choose to experience as the truth, are not The Truth. There’s a reason they're censoring our letters home. There’s a reason soldiers don’t come home the same men as they left.

They blindly lead us through the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

BY JASMIN GRIFFITHS

trenches in the dark. The haunting quiet all around us was broken only by the squelch of boots in deep mud and laboured breaths of soldiers not yet fit enough to keep up. The stories of darkness and death that wormed their way into our ears through hushed whispers in the bunks were becoming more realistic with each heavy footstep. We were all young, eager and ready to fight for our country, but similarly had never been in a situation that inspired such fear and anxiety. No words were spoken between us; not even muttered under the breath of an apprehensive young private. We were so close to danger, and we could feel it.

We were so close to danger, and we could feel it.

The air felt different the further along the trenches we went, and I became increasingly distressed to the distance we were travelling.

Although we had been made aware the trenches were long

and complicated, this seemed excessive. We had been walking for more than two hours when the first man died. All at once, the mud felt thicker, the temperature rose uncomfortably quickly and a smell as foul and pungent as you can imagine hit my nostrils at full force.

A wave of groans could be heard from the soldiers around me, but we became suddenly more aware of everything. My fingers found their way around my rifle and gripped until my knuckles turned white. The smell was sweet and sickly, and instantly I knew it to be the smell of death. I had never smelled death before, but there was no mistaking it. It came about before we could process what was happening, and with a speed we didn’t think possible; something leapt over the side of the trench, savagely ambushing a soldier a few heads in front of me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, like poison needles bristling against my skin, for worse was about to come. We were not being attacked by men. They vaguely resemble men, but when it turned its face towards us, the life and existence behind its eyes was unequivocally no longer human. Even in the pitch black of the trenches, the otherworldly glow of its form was a sight 49

prose so haunting, it’s still all I see when I close my eyes.

Quickly, we realised we were no longer on our British soil.

The trenches had taken us from our homeland down an eternal maze, leading us into the depths of our inescapable and unmistakable demise. We were in hell, surrounded by purgatory and danger and we were stuck.

They’re eating our souls. Sucking them from our stillbreathing bodies The war is not the war you think it is. The moment our signatures collided with the signup sheet is the exact moment we signed our death certificates. We were never meant to survive. And by ‘we’ I’m not exclusively referring to the ‘allies’. The death toll on either side is counted by the real executives of this war. It is bigger than us, it is bigger than anything. This is not war. This is a collection. A feeding frenzy. Every death is one death closer to the end of this all, but they are not nearly done. They’re eating our souls. Sucking them from our still-breathing bodies to feed the higher beings behind all this hatred and despair, then using our bodies, our strength, to attack our friends, our allies, and our enemies. We lay in wait, dormant in the trenches you haven’t discovered yet, and then we begin our assault. When this war is over, we will start a new one. And another one after that.

We are eternal. We are ageless.

We are hungry.

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*** The following is the psychiatric evaluation of Private Zachary Williams by Doctor Edgar Smythe, dated July nineteenth 1916:

The patient is Zachary Williams, an ex-private of the British Army. He was admitted into our care a little under two months ago. The officer who brought him in reported that he was a danger to himself and others, unloading his rifle on anyone he saw as a threat.

Pt. Williams was found covered in the blood of himself, and his fellow soldiers after being lost in the trenches for as many as ten days. Since the patient's admission, his mental health has shown a clear and dangerous deterioration.

The patient is refusing to eat or drink anything willingly, claiming to only be able to feed on the flesh and blood of humans or rats. He is unaware of his surroundings, not once realising he has been admitted into our institution or care, instead still believing to be out in the trenches with his fellow soldiers.

He must be kept sedated at all times to keep him from constantly screaming

the names of his fallen comrades and causing more damage to his torn vocal cords. It is our belief that due to witnessing the brutal death of so many men, and the physical and psychological damage experienced during the time he was lost in the trenches, his brain has shut down as much as possible, leaving the patient locked inside his own insanity.

The patient is presenting with regular panic attacks and moment of clear hysteria due to hallucinations of which he vocally expresses feelings of danger due to being surrounded by “otherworldly beings”. Find attached to this evaluation, a drawing done by the patient before his mandatory sedation with stolen pencils on a found poster.

It is my professional opinion that the patient is suffering from shell shock, chronic mania, traumatic injury, exposure, dissipation of nerves, hallucinations, hysteria dehydration, starvation, and night terrors. He will remain in our care for the foreseeable future, due to presenting as a threat to himself and to all others around him.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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BOOKISH...

Join us for our monthly book club!

BY JOEL FRANCIS

I

t’s February, and that means it’s Valentine’s day! You either felt some strange excitement at that statement, or you rolled your eyes. Well, there is a book recommendation in this month’s article for both of those responses.

This month’s book range all have a common thread of romance flowing through their pages. I hope at least one of them appeals to you!

1Q84 Haruki Murakami Genre: Romance/Magical Realism/Fiction What’s in the pages? The year is 1Q84, there are two moons in the sky, but this is the real world, as real as the one you and I live in. Our protagonists are Gym Instructor Aomame and Ghostwriter Tengo. Their lives are intertwined, and their fates have been twisting since childhood, but as they each embark on something perilous, can both of them be saved or must one sacrifice themselves to protect the other?

Why should you read it? I’m going to preface this review by saying this book is not for everyone. Spanning 1,300 pages over three volumes, this is a slow-burning novel about love, life and the consequences of your actions. The story develops along with you as you read it, so although at times it can be painfully slow, it feels as though it can’t go much faster and that is the virtue of Murakami’s writing. His style is delicate, brash, enchanting and heartbreaking all at the same time. Having worked on his craft for 30 years at the time of publishing, Murakami is a master of his craft, and this is his Magnum Opus - and what an achievement it is.

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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

SAGA VOL. 1-9 (ONGOING) Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples Genre: Romance/ Science Fiction/Fiction What’s in the pages?

Landfall & Coalition Two worlds in a neverending intergalactic conflict for generations.

Alana and Marko are two star-crossed lovers who risk everything to be together and bring new hope of life into this ever more disruptive existence in which they both live.

Why should you read it? This graphic novel series is incredible.

I can see the snobs rolling their eyes at the mention of a ‘comic’ or ‘graphic novel’ being recommended in a book review column. However, I promise you that this is one of the best series of books I have ever read. It takes a similar story of Romeo & Juliet and flips it on its head by including space aliens, humanoids with TV heads and outer space. A space opera at its finest, this series is dense, tense and visually stunning. It’s a real literacy accomplishment, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to burst their graphic novel cherry.

DEAR FAHRENHEIT 451: LOVE AND HEARTBREAK IN THE STACKS Annie Spence Genre: Romance/Humour/ Non-Fiction

What’s in the pages? Annie Spence is a librarian who writes love and break up letters to the books in her life. Through the lens of these letters, she comments on the world we live in and the issues we deal with in our modern existence.

Why should you read it? Dear Dear Fahrenheit 451, I have a date for Valentine’s day - It’s with you! You might be the perfect book; significant statement, however I think that might be the case. I decided to end 2019 with you because I thought you would be easy. You were, but you were also so much more! You were beautiful, fun, joyful and frankly a book lover’s dream. Reading you was like talking to a best friend about your favourite books, and for the most part, I agreed with a lot of what you said (except for The Goldfinch, I just don’t get it).

If anyone needs an escape from life for a little while I recommend you read this book. It’s ridiculous, witty and charming.

I’ve fallen in love with your pages, and I’m excited to re-read you.

For more book recommendations follow Joel’s Instagram @neurodiversebookworm.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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scene

A Traveller’s Lament

BY PETER SCHIRMER

When first I visited the Continent it was on business, not on pleasure bent; and though that trip was long, long years ago (when trains were fast and aeroplanes were slow) there was no easyJet, no Ryanair, but BEA would always get you there; what’s more, you’d fly in comfort and at ease, with ample room for arms, and legs, and knees; and, even if your flight was tourist class, your drinks weren’t served in plastic, but in glass.

There was no euro then, the pound was king and two crisp notes bought almost anything; the Deutschmark, lire and French franc were currencies of far, far lower rank.

Those days are gone. The ‘Grand Tour’ is no more – replaced by budget trips, cheap holidays galore, and primped-up country villages where drink is over-priced, and local pissoires stink.

So, ere you plan your summer holiday, take heed of what this traveller has to say... and be advised, there are some things to know about those places you may wish to go.

In each EU city, whichever the one you’ll be caught in a horrid, tsunami-like run of self-centred tourists with cameras on sticks whose driving ambitions are ‘selfie’ style pics

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scene (with Nice as the backdrop, or Florence or Rome to bore all their friends when they’re finally home).

There are Yanks chewing gum (when their jaws drop in awe the wads they’ve been ‘chawing’ plop onto the floor, and these unpleasant signs of the modern-day vandals will cling to your soles, or mess up your sandals).

There are wrinkled white women who try to look glamorous as they pose in bright frocks for the Polaroid cameras, or trawl the city’s stradas like a clutch of hungry vultures, tearing at the entrails of the Classic arts and cultures.

There are Chinese from Beijing draped with cameras and phones; there are Chechens, there are Russians from former Soviet zones; there are Indians in white turbans, scar-faced men from Senegal, and hordes of Bangladeshies – fat, skinny, short or tall.

In the cobble-stone squares with a fountain or statue, where dark crouching beggars poke begging-bowls at you.

You’ll be hassled by hucksters and hustled by Huns whose big-bosomed hausfraus and leder-hosed sons are notoriously pushy at pool-side resorts; you’ll see Brendas from Blackpool , bums squeezed into shorts; and Elsies from Essex, their minds without thought, as they boast to each other of things they have bought, and the nights filled with giggles and ‘uppers’ and booze and they woke up next morning with garish tattoos; and brash, pushy Aussies with rucksacks and rollers who bump out of their way any unwary strollers...

So throw back your shoulders and push out your chest, And stick out your elbows (right angles are best).

Recall the Grand Tour; but –whatever may pass – though you may be a tourist, try to travel first class.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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leisure

TRAVERSING TIBET Crossing the ‘Roof of the World’ - Tibet’s multitude of ancient and modern contradictions.

BY PETER SCHIRMER

I

and mystic mandalas created from multi-coloured sands; and perhaps for the Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s spiritual heart, revered for its golden statue of the young Buddha.

[Tibet was probably the first destination on my own ‘bucket list’ (though unrecognised as such at the time) when, as an enthusiastic teenage rock-climber

on Table Mountain, I devoured books on the early 1920s attempts to reach the summit of Everest by mountaineers such as Mallory and Irving… and the Rombuk Monastery, Kumbuk Glacier, and North Col became dreamt-of destinations.

That enthusiasm was whetted further when, as a cub reporter in May 1953, I liaised with a former Potala Palace

ts white walls are cracked and crumbling, but – perched atop a rocky outcrop rising from the Tibetan plateau, and surrounded by sparse fields of yellow rapeseed – the fort at Gyantse and the town nestling at its feet epitomise the history and contradictions that mark the ‘Roof of the World’, a country so dubbed for its average 4,000m altitude, its mystery, and an isolation that ended only little more than a century ago.

Though in the past decade China has aggressively opened its semiautonomous northern territory to tourism, of the 30 million visitors attracted last year fewer than 100,000 were Westerners.

And for most of us, the lofty plateau on the northern side of the towering Himalayas remains as mysteriously remote as Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak, which Tibet shares with Nepal.

We know Tibet for pictures of the Potala Palace, once the Dalai Lama’s winter home in the capital city Lhasa; for the exiled Dalai Lama himself, as the world’s bestknown Buddhist; for the elaborate 56

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head of the Indian Ordinance Survey Office to follow and report (at a 9,956km distance) on the progress of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s successful first ascent of Everest. However, it was to be almost six decades before I climbed steps of the Potala or saw the fort at Gyantse, where a battle in 1904 changed the course of Tibetan history.]

In what was a small part of what Rudyard Kipling called ‘The Great Game’ – the Anglo-Russian rivalry for control of, or influence over the countries of Central Asia – the Viceroy of India Lord Curzon sent Sir Francis Younghusband with a 1,000-strong force to invade Tibet and force British concessions from the ruling lamas.

It was a blood-bathed campaign from the first encounter, when the four field-guns and two Maxim machine guns each firing 500 rounds a minute drove off a force of 3,000 Tibetans armed with only with flintlocks and spears. The invaders marched on towards Lhasa, with only Gyantse to block their way – and there a Tibetan legend intervened. If the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

fort at Gyantse fell to an enemy invader there should be no further resistance, the legend ran, or so our Han Chinese guide Cham Dang told me, as we stared up at the fort from the Baiju Monastery, home to some magnificent fivecenturies-old statuary.

Younghusband’s men massacred the 700 Tibetan soldiers defending the town and its citadel, and – as per legend – there was no further resistance. Britain became the first Western country to pry open Tibet and force commercial concessions from its senior lamas. However, the invasion also persuaded the Qing court in Beijing to bring Tibet under Chinese control, and six years later when Britain withdrew, the ‘Roof of the World’ was again invaded – this time by China.

With the collapse of the Qing empire in 1913 Tibet regained a form of independence which survived until the bloody 1951 Chinese Communist take-over and the ensuing political crises that, five years later, led to the flight to India of the Dalai Lama.

And invasion from the East has continued in an ever-increasing flood of tourists – accelerated since 2006 by the world’s highest railway linking Lhasa to Beijing and Shanghai and which last year carried nearly 20 million passengers – who give an annual boost of some US$7.8bn to Tibet’s economy… but whose heavy footfall are damaging and degrading some of its most stunning sites. Even the Potala has not been immune.

Today, like other towns of central plateau, yaks, pigs and chickens forage in Gyantse’s dusty roads, which are lined with shops and restaurants run by ethnic Han migrants, whom many Tibetans see as the most recent wave of invaders. Downtown rooftops and walls are ‘decorated’ with

It was a bloodbathed campaign from the first encounter.

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travel drying patties of yak dung that form the fuel for most homes, and these share space with fetish animal skulls, Buddhist prayer flags… and modern TV aerials – one of the many ancient/modern contradictions which punctuate travel across the Roof of the World.

Where the only set of traffic lights in the main street of Lhasa check, impartially, a steady flow of modern limousines, battered lorries, tricycle tuk-tuk taxis, and yak-drawn farmers’ wagons.

Where a slick Chinese supermarket on Jokhang Square – selling, among a multitude of foodstuff, furniture, and clothing, a convincing copy of a luxury $9,000 Phillipe Patek watch (acquired for the equivalent of £9 and which ran accurately for four months) – overlooks ragged pilgrims prostrating themselves a few metres away as they crawl on a penitential Bakhor Street circuit around the Jokhang Temple.

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Rooftops and walls are ‘decorated’ with drying patties of yak dung.

Where crimson-robed novitiates at the 600-year-old Sera Monastery follow tantric teachings in a noisy series of oneon-one arguments, accompanied by rock, paper, scissors-like gestures – while others play handheld computer games or chat on mobile phones.

Where even the smallest backcountry hotel boasts a bar and dining-room with walls and ceilings covered with paintings, but electricity supplies are so spasmodic that kettles are heated by focusing the sun’s rays on curved metal ‘mirrors’ in a centuries-old form of solar heating.

The list of improbable contrasts is as endless as the ubiquitous 4-litre thermos flasks filled with salty, yak-butter tea… the ultimate in an ‘acquired taste’.

A ten-day trek in an airconditioned SUV took my wife and me from Lhasa to the seedy border town of Zhangmu, where the Freedom Bridge spans the Bhote Koshi River and carries the road to Nepal and Kathmandu.

Extracts from my travel diary give only a taste of what awaits a traveler in today’s Tibet.

In Lhasa: ‘Lunched in a sandwich/ ice-cream parlour where a guy was icing the most elaborate cakes and a charming student speaking some English wanted to know where we came from. Never heard of Gibraltar… They are so polite, so anxious to be friendly.’

Leaving Lhasa the following day: ‘A day rich in agricultural valleys and stupendous passes and our

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travel Yak-butter tea… the ultimate in an ‘acquired taste’. first real – and unexpected – view of Everest. We set off on the “new” road, but soon turned off onto a bumpy cross-country ride. This “detour” was a pattern repeated so often today that I’ve lost count; but the first was particularly memorable for, after jinking through the first, we were confronted by a barrage across the Brahmaputra and, a few hundred yards beyond, a ford.

We got through OK, but the car behind us stalled half way across.

Then up the Tsuola Pass (4,500m) – a monumental piece of S-bend engineering and lunch t the ‘De Wong Family Hotel’, which has the improbable English inscription “plain sailing” over its painted entrance.

pass (Lhakpa La 5,200m) with an arch-like gateway of tattered prayer flags. As we began the long descent towards the Quomklangma Hotel we saw Everest – and without the peaks swathed in cloud. A fantastic moment.’

‘July 11. Strange breakfast – sweet pancake slices and peanuts and odd-flavoured buns – and no hot water. From Shegar the road follows the Bum Chu River almost as far as the start of the climb to Lalung La (5,050m) along a lush agricultural valley which eventually and increasingly turns to an arid, though spectacular desert landscape. There are ruins of mud-brick forts everywhere – reminders of the 17th and 18th centuries when Nepal tried to invade Tibet at least five times.

‘The incredible pastel colours of the surrounding hills, then, later, the brilliant white of snow on the various Himalayan slopes which

made the clouds look like the “other” washing soap in TV ads, and the brilliant unpolluted blue of the sky. We climbed to Thong La (5,120m) pausing for spectacular views through the obligatory prayer arch. Then a Cham Dang short-cut bumped us onto a downward road following a stream that became a swollen gorge as it passed the Milarepa Monastery.

‘We lunched yak dumplings at Nyalam (where a huge overhanging boulder threatens the police check-point) and then drove into an absolute wonderland of rushing snowmelt streams and waterfalls that plunged down vertical rock-faces and steep slopes covered in trees and bamboos. At one point stopped to pick wild strawberries, at another Cham Dang stopped the car under a waterfall for a free car wash…’

That’s Tibet for you.

‘As we waited for the pass to open “probably six o’clock” we were besieged by an elderly crone flogging rock crystals, and two snotty-nosed children asking “money, money”. Gave ’em yesterday’s breakfast biscuits instead, while Cham Dang bribed the slovenly guardians of the pass to open it early – a couple of packets of fags and we were on our way, starting to climb past teams of local peasants who were mining and cutting slate which is then sold all over Tibet, and, presumably, used to make copies of fossils similar to those we’ve bought.

‘First snow of the Himalayas we saw was Choy (?) Peak just before reaching the top of the

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

59

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CONFESSIONS OF A BEAUTY ADDICT Those finishing touches…

BY ALEX ORFILA

W

e’ve all been asked the very generic question: What items can you absolutely not leave your house without in the morning? A mental scroll of the contents of my bag and pockets usually ensues and I instinctively answer: phone, wallet, lipstick (in my case anyway) and keys. Have I left anything out?

Oh yes! A flask of coffee too, if we are referring strictly to mornings.

Likewise, whether you are stepping out on a date with your beau or hitting the town with friends, we all have a mental checklist of the beauty steps we just cannot bring ourselves to skip before a big night out. To do so would leave one feeling totally GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Go heavy on the lustre. More really is more. unprepared and practically naked.

Once you have your outfit sorted it’s time to think about your beauty regime. For some getting ready may include hours at the salon getting pampered. Others may opt for DIY solutions and take on doing their hair, makeup and nails themselves. Whilst for some it may be as simple as just brushing their teeth and rocking towel dried hair – which would be wonderfully quick and convenient!

Unfortunately for me – and all beauty addicts alike – getting ready is a little more complex, time consuming and at times expensive. Allow me to transfer my mental beauty prep checklist from mind to paper, although I prefer to refer to this as the “finishing touches”. If I were to share every step of my beauty regime there would be several chapters and it would take up too much of the magazine.

Whether you want to spoil yourself and splurge on some beauty treats this Valentine’s Day, or whether you’re the type that prefers a bargain, fret not; my tried-and-tested checklist caters for all tastes and budgets.

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beauty SHINE SPRAY A seductive red lip, the most timeless of beauty weapons.

When it comes to hair, whether you prefer a tidy up-do, or flowing luscious locks, go heavy on the lustre. More really is more.

Thankfully, one doesn’t have to be naturally blessed with Pantene advert glossy locks when there are a range of sprays to help you cheat at shine. Spray this all over your hair once styled for some last minute wow factor.

A playful and unique scent with top notes of black cherry, rose and jasmine. This luxurious scent calls for nighttime outings and dressing up.

PERFUME Is any look complete without perfume? The answer is a resounding no. Perfume is more than just a finishing touch. I apply it twice, whilst I’m getting ready and again before I walk out the door. I actually always keep a bottle in the hallway for easy reach when dashing out.

Splurge: Tom Ford - Lost Cherry 50ml - £220.

Splurge: Ouai Shine and Body Spray - £25. This is more than a hair spray as it can be used on the body too. Not only does this spray add shine but it actually smells divine. I can sometimes smell this on myself more than my actual perfume.

Bargain: Zara Red Vanilla and Black Amber 100ml - £12.99.

With notes of blackcurrant, tangerine and passion fruit these Zara scents do not not only smell amazing but they also represent incredible value. An added bonus is the price means you don’t won’t feel guilty about picking up a bottle on an absolute whim at the Zara till.

RED LIPSTICK

Bargain: Deliplus Spray Brillo Diamante - €2. The serious shine delivered by this super market brand is unreal and looks anything but budget.

Nothing quite screams date night like a seductive red lip, the most timeless of beauty weapons. It has the power to transform a look entirely. However, the search

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beauty for the perfect red lipstick can be complicated and fraught with unflattering shades. Always try before you buy, this is one to avoid buying online unless you are repurchasing a shade you’ve used before.

The tried and tested heavyweight of all setting sprays and well worth the price as a bottle will last months.

Splurge: Chanel Rouge Allure £35. Pictured: Rouge Majestueux

This classic shade by Revlon is unashamedly named ‘Red Rules the World’, and we couldn’t agree more!

When it comes to a classic red lip few can rival Chanel with its opulent packaging and variety of red tones. The fashion house has perfected the red lip and their Rouge Allure Limited Edition collection offers a range of six classic red shades to compliment every complexion. Which will you choose?

SETTING SPRAY

Bargain: Revlon SuperLustrous Matte Lipstick - £7.99.

Splurge: Urban Decay 118ml - £24.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

A spritz or three of setting spray is not to be skipped; it’s a necessary step to ensure that your makeup stays in place all night long.

Bargain: NYX Matte Finish Setting spray 60ml - £7.

A worthy contender to the Urban Decay setting spray and a fraction of the price too.

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Using ingredients that make up most of Gibraltar’s culinary melting pot, we’ve brought together a fusion of the traditional and modern.

From vegetarian alternatives to adaptations of the most common dishes you can expect to find on the Rock. Mama shares some of her favourite simple recipes to inspire you back into the kitchen, so you can cook up fresh and tasty meals every day, no matter your skill level.

Buy the book and find more recipes over on

www.mamalotties.com

travel

“BUSINESS IS BUSINESS,” SAID MOHAMMED The tour taking myself and a coach load of senior citizen tourists from the Algarve to Spain and Morocco was a revelation. An experience that 34 years later I can look back on with a smile on my face and the words of tour guide Mohammed still resonating…

BY REG REYNOLDS

I

t was February 1986 and I was 38 and working for Discover Portimao, an English language tourist magazine based in Portugal’s Algarve. We were only in our third month of operation and I had been assigned to write an article for an excursion company called Festa Tour. The three-day, two-night trip would take myself and a busload of Canadians and Americans to Seville, Algeciras, Gibraltar and Tangier.

I boarded the tour bus at 6am in Praia da Rocha and found that I was by far the youngest passenger. The tour guide was a slim, pleasant Portuguese woman, Rosa Maria, who appeared to be around 30, and the driver was a stocky 40-something Portuguese man. We drove through sunny Seville and cloudy Cadiz before I first laid eyes on the historic Rock of Gibraltar. The coach was high on a hill when I first espied the mighty Rock and the view exceeded my expectations. Just

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

like the descriptions I had read in many a book and brochure it resembled a giant crouching lion. We reached Gibraltar in time for lunch at Ocean Heights Apartments, which at the time had a cafeteria on an upper floor. By now it was bucketing down, but I had promised a couple of English barmaids that I would bring back some Cadbury’s chocolate which wasn’t available in Portugal at the time. So, I ran through the rain and got thoroughly soaked before finding a shop near the plaza where I bought the treats. Back on the bus we were given a quick tour of the Rock and then driven to the Hotel Al-Mar in Algeciras where we were allocated our rooms before gathering for a buffet dinner.

The next morning, during breakfast, Rosa approached me and asked for help. It turned out that most of the Canadians and a couple of Americans were going to Tangier, but the rest of the Americans were being taken

to Ceuta. She said she would be traveling with the Ceuta group, and asked, because I was younger and Canadian, if I would look after the Tangier bunch. I had chatted quite a bit with the trusting tourists, and in a charming naivety they had come to believe that I was fluent in Spanish and an expert on all things Iberian. Rosa handed me a thick white envelope full of vouchers and said, “Give this to Mohammed”.

We were bussed to Tarifa where we boarded a hydrofoil to Tangier.

As we made our way across the Strait, I wondered how I would recognize Mohammed. I needn’t have worried for as the ferry pulled into the dock one man stood out from the rest. He was a big man in height and girth wearing a charcoal djellaba and with a head of grey hair topped by a red fez. I handed Mohammed the envelope and apparently, he took that to mean I was the tour rep and I was to be rewarded accordingly. I was invited to sit up 65

Snake charmers in the Kasbah. Mohammed can be seen on the extreme left.

Just like I had read in many a book it resembled a giant crouching lion.

front with him and the driver and I didn’t pay for any drink or food for the rest of the day.

Our first stop was the Kasbah where we wandered around watching snake charmers and listening to music. We were taken to restaurant Le Detroit 66

for drinks and snacks. Two local men dressed in traditional garb were moving from table to table strumming ukulele-type instruments and chanting in what I thought was Arabic. When they reached my table, I could now understand the chant, and it was quite simple, “Money, money.

Money, money. Money, money.”

Their instruments had slots carved into them and I duly dropped in a couple of pound coins. After the Kasbah, Mohammed took us to a leather goods shop and then to a carpet store. Both were quite large and well-stocked. As I was sticking close to Mohammed I wasn’t pestered by the sales staff, which was a good thing because I had very little cash and almost all of it was in Portuguese escudos.

The indoor sales staff and outdoor peddlers weren’t interested in GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

travel

With shopping finished, Mohammed led us out into the street where we were suddenly swarmed by dozens of aggressive shouting panhandlers hawking all manor of trinkets, souvenirs and housewares, including pots and pans. I had never experienced anything like it. They hassled us aggressively all along the street as we walked to our luncheon destination. One man latched on to me and kept shouting while thrusting a ceremonial knife in front of my face. I tried to discourage him by half-shouting back that I only had escudos, but he persisted for the whole walk.

Fortunately, despite the clamoring crowd, it was easy to keep track of Mohammed as he was taller than everyone else and we simply kept an eye on his Fez. Finally, we reached the restaurant and with relief sat down on cushions to be served wine and chicken couscous while being entertained by an enthusiastic but unattractive belly dancer.

We were midway through lunch when Mohammed beckoned me to join him in the hallway.

Wondering what this could be all about, I stood with my back to the wall as Mohammed handed me an envelope and said, “Here is your commission”. Shocked, I blurted out, “Commission?”. Mohammed put a large forefinger to his GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

Canadians boarding the hydrofoil at Tarifa.

Moroccan dirhams and foreign currencies were preferred; American dollars, British pounds and Canadian dollars were most welcome, Spanish pesetas were acceptable, but escudos sneered at and only taken as a last resort. I was impressed with the efficiency of the marketing and the fact that the shops would ship the goods, including large carpets, to addresses in the US and Canada.

It was then that I finally opened the envelope. mouth and said, “Sssh, business is business.” I took the envelope, put it in an inside pocket of my jacket and sheepishly joined my fellow Canadians.

After lunch we went on a bus tour.

Peddlers on scooters followed us and whenever we stopped for camel rides or at outdoor markets, they persisted with their high-pressure sales pitches.

I was surprised at how green some areas were and the high quality of the fruit, vegetables, fish and meat in the markets.

By the time we returned to the hydrofoil the sky had gone dark and there was a strong wind. The crossing was a bit rough and at one point the foils were lowered to improve stability. It was then that I finally opened the envelope and was pleasantly surprised but somewhat embarrassed to find cash and cheques adding up to

$200 Canadian. I didn’t want the Canadians to know that I had profited off their purchases so kept the windfall to myself. On arrival we boarded the coach but the ferry from Ceuta had been delayed by the bad weather. I felt I earned the money when I took on tour rep responsibilities by reassuring the tourists that everything would be OK and we would be in Seville well before midnight; all the time worrying that Rosa would ask me if Mohammed had given me an envelope.

Rosa never said a word except to thank me for my efforts. Our group spent the night in the Hotel Macarena and the next morning the buffet breakfast was one of the best I have ever experienced in Europe. The sun was out again, and we toured Seville, visiting the Alcazar, the bullring and the beautiful pavilions remaining from the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition.

We arrived back in the Algarve in time for dinner. I said cheerio to Rosa and my tourist friends and headed for Foley’s Irish bar laden down with Cadbury’s chocolates and $200 richer.

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leisure

DATE NIGHT IDEAS How to spend Valentine’s Day in Gibraltar.

BY PENELOPE BIELCKUS (THE FLYAWAY GIRL)

V

alentine’s Day is that wonderful day of the year where couples get even more loved up and singletons aim to avoid anywhere that might be full of cutesy couples on the 14th. It’s also (in)conveniently only two months after Christmas and New Year’s, so whether you’re trying to save those pennies or if you want to splurge, there are a whole lot of different things you can do to make the day special.

A romantic dinner out is a classic Valentine’s Day date and for good reason! Who doesn’t like a little bit of wining and dining? If you and your partner are a big fan of a meaty platter (and no, that’s not an innuendo) then Gauchos Steakhouse is the perfect place to chow on some excellent steak.

For that romantic sharing option, the Parillada platter with multiple meats involved is the perfect main course. We’ll leave the dessert to you, of course.

Whether you have been married for years, have only recently entered into a relationship (ah, young love), or are single and ready to mingle, there is always a way to celebrate the international day of amor. While Valentine’s Day is the ‘big day’ to do something fancy or go all out, you can also enjoy any of these date night ideas at any point during the year (and some are possibly even better during the warmer, summer months).

If steak doesn’t whet your appetite so much, maybe an extensive

Many of the date night ideas below are also perfect for a Galentine’s (celebrating friendship between your gal pals) or whatever the guy equivalent of that is called (Manentine’s? Lad-entine’s?).

What says love better than scones with clotted cream? wine selection and a whole host of delicious dishes will. My Wines, located down at Chatham Counterguard, is easily one of my top places in Gibraltar for wine.

Their selection of over 500 wines covers a wide variety of countries and regions, so whether you’re a

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

fan of a French Chardonnay, a New Zealand Pinot Gris or a Spanish Rioja then they will definitely have the perfect wine for you and your partner.

For those who have a sweet tooth, head up to the The Rock Hotel and indulge in a (literally) high tea, served as you enjoy the spectacular views over Gibraltar.

What says love better than scones with clotted cream? Probably a few things, but it’s a pretty good message nevertheless.

Valentine’s Day also really doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive - after all, it really should be all about spending time with the one you love (cue a chorus of ‘aww’s).

Head to The Gin & Wine Club at Chatham Counterguard for a tipple for two (obviously great for gin lovers but they also make an amazing rum cocktail called ‘Numb Rum’).

For those who aren’t feeling the tipple but would prefer a caffeine boost, head to the Top of the Rock Cafe for a coffee with a view. Move in nice and close to your SO and take in the stunning views over Gibraltar as you enjoy

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leisure your beverage. It’s also a great chance to play tourist in your own backyard as you can take the Cable Car up to the top and attempt to avoid getting vertigo on the Skywalk.

Since this is a round-up of some very different date ideas, there had to be some more unique ones involved. If you and your partner are into logic and puzzles (or just want to test if you can avoid bickering), why not head to the Rock Escape Rooms and see if you can solve murder mystery?

Whether you’re an escape room aficionado or a complete newbie, this is sure to get the brain cogs

turning and will definitely be a memorable Valentine’s Day date.

This is sure to get the brain cogs turning.

The next idea is not for the budget-conscious, and also not for those who are scared of flying.

However, if you’ve got the cash to splash and don’t mind heights and flying machines, a helicopter tour of Gibraltar (or even across to Africa) is an epic way to wow your date for Valentine’s Day. This is truly an incredible way of seeing Gibraltar from a totally different viewpoint! Prices start at £150 per person for a shared flight or £800 for up to four people (double date anyone?) for a private flight with GibHeli.

For some people, ‘dinner and a movie’ is the ultimate cliché Valentine’s Day date. If you dislike a cliché and want to

organise something your date definitely won’t forget in a hurry, consider something a little more adventurous. How does via ferrata up some impressive rocks in Ronda sound? If you’re wondering what via ferrata even is, it’s a form of rock climbing involving a steel cable that runs along a route with iron rungs affixed to the rock that climbers use as an aid as they ascend. In2Adventures offers a selection of adventurous activities including via ferrata and canyoning that will pique the interest of any adrenaline junkie.

If you prefer the sea to land and an active date sounds like fun, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) can be a lot of fun. It’s also highly entertaining when your partner/ friend/whoever you are taking on a Valentine’s date accidentally falls in…

These more adventurous options generally take you out of Gibraltar for the day (aside from SUP), which leads into the next (and my favourite) date ideas. While a staycation can be an amazing way to spend Valentine’s Day (did someone say yacht hotel?), there are so many beautiful places just a stone’s throw from Gibraltar and easily accessible by car and even by public transport.

Three destinations that are perfect for a little Valentine’s Day getaway are beautiful Estepona, with her whitewashed, historic centre and pueblo charm, the magical Vejer de la Frontera and the chic, foodie heaven of Marbella.

For those who love wandering small towns and enjoy discovering architectural gems, Estepona and Vejer de la Frontera are perfect options for your getaway. Since it’s Valentine’s after all, the romantic

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leisure legend linked to Vejer de la Frontera is a definite reason to adventure to this beautiful pueblo blanco.

According to legend, the Moroccan Emir Ali Ben Rachid fell in love with an Andalusian girl named

Zhora while in the pueblo of Vejer da la Frontera. When Vejer was reconquered by Spain in the 13th century the couple - who were now married - had to escape to Morocco as Moors were exiled from the town. The legend goes that Zhora was so sad that she

would never find another village as beautiful as her home so the Emir, in order to cheer up his beloved, tried to recreate a town similar to Vejer with irregular streets and painted houses. The town he founded as a result is the beautiful blue town of Chefchaouen!

Whether you believe the legend of not (it is most definitely true that he founded the town of Chefchaouen, but the romantic side of the legend is more debatable), it really does play on the romance of the town of Vejer de la Frontera. You can meander down the whitewashed streets, hand in hand with your beloved and imagining that they might, someday, build you a beautiful town of your own. A girl can dream, right?

If you’re more into beachfront resorts, Michelin starred restaurants and feeling like you’re one of the rich and famous, then Marbella with its Golden Mile is an ideal escape from the day-today. Treat your Valentine to a walk along the promenade, a wander in La Alameda Park or even go and explore some of the art galleries or museums.

And there you have it - from the classic dinner date to the less classic canyoning or stand up paddle-boarding, there is truly a Valentine’s Day idea for everyone (both for star-crossed lovers and proud singletons). Put the overpriced chocolates down and choose a memorable date night to remember!

Follow Penelope’s travels on Instagram: @the_flyaway_girl or visit www.theflyawaygirl.com.

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food and wine

REKINDLING THE ROMANCE St Valentines, pink Krug, and a string of pearls.

BY ANDREW LICUDI DIPSWET

T

hey fell in love at first sight. He loved her because she was young, beautiful with a marked irreverent streak, which in full flow made her blush with excitement and men weak at their knees as they wondered what else lay behind her emerald-green eyes. She loved him because he was rugged, strong, and because he was an up-and-coming artist and for as long as anyone can remember men and woman have been attracted to poets, writers and painters whose abilities, whether real or imagined, become peacock feathers – their possessors magically transformed into highly-charged, sexual magnets.

For the first few months, before they moved in together, their waking thoughts were of each other. At lunchtime she would rush to his studio where he had spent the morning unable to concentrate, jumping from one unfinished work to another waiting for her arrival. When she appeared, he would lock the door and draw the curtains on the enormous southernfacing windows and they would feverishly undress amongst the debris of semi-finished plaster heads and wet canvasses on spindly easels.

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After they got married, their passion, much like the effervescence of a good sparkling wine, soon calmed down and they happily settled into a new routine. Each day they discovered something surprising about each other taking great delight even at the mundane and absurd. He would make a point of watching her in the mornings bent naked over the sink feverishly brushing her teeth before showering and be lost in admiration at her alabaster skin, shapely feet and

"It won’t be easy. I am not cheap and I only drink pink Krug." legs wondering if he could ever reproduce her in plaster or marble.

In the evenings, once they had settled down, she would snuggle up to him secretly sniffing his skin which smelled of linseed oil and gypsum, delivering an electrical jolt through her body and bringing up involuntary images of their contortionist-lovemaking on the velvet chaise-longue in his studio.

Little by little, without noticing at

first, they begun to tire of each other. Not that their love had in any way diminished. If anything, it had grown stronger and it would have seemed inconceivable to them that they would not grow old together. They tried all sorts of tricks to rekindle primordial passion. They tried romantic weekends in the countryside.

They surprised each other with small, thoughtful gifts left with little notes in surprising places.

She started going to the studio at lunchtimes, but the studio now seemed cold and damp and the thought of undressing surrounded by wet plaster appealed to neither of them.

“Why don’t you take me to one of those cosy little restaurants notorious for illicit liaisons between struggling artists and bored upper-class housewives?

We could pretend we just met.”

He smiled.

“Yes, why not. It so happens I am looking for a model. A nude one at that!”

She looked straight into his eyes and with an air of feigned seriousness said: “It won’t be easy.

I am not cheap and I only drink pink Krug. Nothing else will do!”

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

food and wine

The next few days were spent in a whirl of anticipation for both of them. She bought a pale-pink twin-set, an expensive tweed skirt which covered her knees and brown nondescript leather shoes with no heels to speak of. She wanted to look the part. A string of cultured pearls completed the transformation. Had a casual observer seen her underwear it would have undoubtedly brought to mind that overused but wise cliché that ‘a book should never be judged by its cover’.

He managed to book a table at GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

a restaurant he had frequented years before. It so happened it was St Valentines and the chatty girl at the other end of the phone told him he was lucky to get a reservation at such a late stage.

Next, he went in search of the Krug Rose. None of the usual outlets stocked Krug.

On his fourth attempt, he found what he was looking for in a specialist shop much frequented by wine geeks and lawyers. The man at the other end of the phone had gone into verbal ecstasy at the mention of Krug Rose.

“Ahh pink Krug. A daring and magical Champagne like no other.

What harmonies and delicacy.

Rapier-like and crystalline. What flavours. It will ensnare your senses and enthral your palate. A remarkable wine! Unfortunately, I only have one left but I will be happy to give you a discount and keep it for you.”

On the way to the wine shop he smiled to himself thinking of the cost of the wine. He had never spent three hundred pounds on a bottle of wine. No wonder the man at the shop had waxed 73

food and wine lyrical at the Krug. Still, he had no doubt it would be the best-value Champagne he would ever buy!

The shop reeked of privileged lifestyles. Wooden boxes and an assortment of French wines with exotic names filled the small shop window. Clearly visible amongst the wooden cases and bunches of pretend grapes was a burgundycoloured box with a pink label with the words Krug Rose clearly visible. The extortionate price of the wine could be seen dangling from a thin, brown cardboard label.

He pushed open the door, an old fashion bell ringing noisily as he entered. Shelving from floor to ceiling held hundreds of upright wines and on the floor wooden cases stacked one on top of another. Behind the counter a shy-looking girl in her teens looked at him and bade him good morning. After some brief pleasantries he asked for the Krug at which point she apologised and told him she was only looking after the shop as the owner had been called away. He would be back shortly and would he mind waiting? She herself worked in the bakery two doors along.

“No need, the wine is in the window and the price clearly marked. I’ll take it now.”

The girl had insisted on carefully wrapping the box and soon he was on his way carrying the heavy wine under his arm. When he got home, he placed it in the fridge.

On the appointed day he arrived early at the restaurant. The place was already full. Mostly couples.

Some clearly besotted with their partners others self-consciously going through the motions of 74

being in love.

When she arrived, he pretended not to recognise her. She came up to him and offered him her hand.

He stood up as they introduced themselves to each other.

The upper classes have long known that to bring a room to life one should have one tatty and worn piece of furniture.

Her clothes made her face look younger with a translucent glow and her figure, under her staid

“Is this what you do with your clients?

“Yes.” “I must warn you. Many men have tried to make love to me. Only those with pink Krug succeed.”

“Have you met many men who serve Krug?”

“It’s quite common in my circle.”

“And do they always succeed?”

“Always.”

When she arrived, he pretended not to recognise her. clothing, looked disturbingly erotic. The string of pearls made her seem innocent and more than a few of the diners wondered what a beautiful but naïve-looking woman was doing with such a scruffily dressed, unkempt man.

She asked him about his work.

He about her taste in art. They ordered Rìsi e Bìsi and drunk white wine from the Mâcon. For such an oddly-matched couple they seemed to be getting on very well. It did not go unnoticed that she slipped her shoe off and was gently rubbing the unkempt man’s ankle. Neither did it go unnoticed when he reached over and rubbed her pearls between his fingers making her smile and her eyes sparkle.

“I think we should carry on this conversation at my place. It seems everyone is watching us. Have you noticed?” he said.

He comes back to the living room with the Krug still in its box. She sits demurely upright on the sofa looking at him. Two champagne glasses, like sentinels, wait on the glass coffee table.

He unwraps the box exposing the Krug label. They look at each other and smile.

Carefully he opens the box. They burst out laughing. Nestling uncomfortably in the silk-lined coffret is a bottle of cheap Prosecco. Of course, nobody in their right mind would keep expensive Krug in a warm shop window!

When they stop laughing, they open the Prosecco. They grimace at the poor quality of the wine.

“I am sorry I should have checked.

I’ll go and pour this away.”

As he reaches for the bottle, she grabs his wrist. Pulls him towards her and whispers something in his ear. He smiles. As she leads him away from the living room with one hand and the bottle in the other, he is glad it was Prosecco and not Champagne.

Show Us Your Mag!

Baby Ella

Baby Leon

LITTLE READERS COMPETITION Want to enter our next competition? Snap a picture of your little one holding a copy of Gib Mag and send it in to editor@thegibraltarmagazine.com, and you’ll be in the running to win a week’s worth of meals at Supernatural!

(Competition ends 20 th March. Winner announced in our April issue.)

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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fashion

BLAZING THROUGH WINTER

We talk at length about the importance of wardrobe staples; I know I definitely do. From our go-to pair of jeans to those trusty white trainers we chuck on with every single outfit, it's often the simplest pieces that have the biggest impact on our style.

LEFT: TUX SUIT BLAZER IN BLACK, NEW LOOK, £35.99 TOP RIGHT: WHITE CLASSIC T-SHIRT, TOMMY JEANS, £25.00 BOTTOM RIGHT: MOM JEANS IN WASHED BLACK, TOPSHOP, £40.00

BY JULIA COELHO

T

he good old blazer made its much-anticipated comeback a few seasons back and has enjoyed its prolific ‘It’ status ever since. Its unfaltering ability to make any outfit look put-together and cool has kept it at the centre of most wardrobes to this day, and it seems that it will continue to dominate into 2020.

If like me, you’ve grown tired of wearing jumpers as tops for four straight months at this point, there’s no better way to shake things up than experimenting with blazers. Fortunately, there's no shortage of options to choose from, as the highstreet is teeming with blazers in all shades and silhouettes to suit practically every budget and style. Read on to discover why blazers win every single time.

The best thing about blazers 76

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fashion

They translate effectively across age groups, genders and sartorial style camps. is that they are, first and foremost, incredibly versatile. Not only do they translate effectively across age groups, genders and sartorial style camps, but they are also extremely adaptable for pretty much any occasion. You can wear one in place of a traditional jacket or coat throughout the warmer winter days we so love here in Gib, right all the way through summer, making for the perfect evening cover-up throughout those humid summer nights.

For everything in between, they provide us with the perfect light jacket to pair with literally any outfit. Come spring and autumn, I basically live in a blazer, tee and jeans combination.

On that note, when it comes to fail-safe outfit formulas, you just can’t beat a blazer and jeans. It's one of the easiest tricks in the stylebook and one that never lets us down. Most importantly, it’s a combination that can be worn on repeat with just a few minor switchups in accessories and styling. Blazers present us with the perfect balance between casual and formal; a line that is often difficult to tread. You can chuck them over any outfit; whether it’s a sleeker work look, an off-duty vibe for post-work drinks or a dinner date, or even a GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

more formal event like a wedding.

TOP: ESSENTIAL STRUCTURED BLAZER, MANGO, £59.99 BOTTOM: LACE TOP, MANGO, £19.99

Party season may be over, but that doesn't mean you have to relegate all glam pieces to the back of your wardrobe just yet.

If you’re anything like me, you may have bought yourself a few sparkly get-ups for your many festive events and are no longer quite sure what to do with them.

Easy! Transform your party pieces into a chic day-to-night

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fashion

TOP: ESSENTIAL STRUCTURED BLAZER, MANGO, £59.99 BOTTOM: LACE TOP, MANGO, £19.99

look by teaming them up with a sharp blazer and some minimal jewellery. It’s your Valentine’s dinner look sorted, whether it’s just a night out with friends, a potential new squeeze, or your other half.

One of the simplest ways to breathe new life into your existing wares is by layering them. Blazers can be worn over blouses, T-shirts, polo necks, dresses, and even skirts. Chances are that you don’t have to dive very deep into your wardrobe to find both a blazer and a skirt in there. It 78

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fashion may not be the first combination you’d think of, but you’ll find it actually works so well if you give it a try. The tailored cut of a blazer juxtaposes the floaty silhouette of a midi skirt and equally makes a mini skirt look a little more refined and covered up somehow. For a chic work look, try pairing one with a pleated skirt and silk cami.

For a chilled weekend ensemble, throw a navy blazer over a denim miniskirt, white trainers and a t-shirt.

TOP: MODAL-BLEND SUIT BLAZER, MANGO, £69.99 BOTTOM RIGHT: BUTTON THROUGH MINI DENIM SKIRT IN BLUE, MONKI, £25.00 BOTTOM LEFT: WHITE STAN SMITH TRAINERS, ADIDAS ORIGINALS, £75.00

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They pack a real style punch.

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TOP: BELTED BLAZER CO-ORD IN SEA GREEN, TOPSHOP, £59.00 RIGHT: BRICK DOUBLE BREASTED BLAZER, TOPSHOP, £49.00

While checks are still going strong as always, you definitely won’t regret investing in a brighter hue to give your outfits a lift and pop

of colour. If you think colour is a terrifying option, then start small.

Opt for animal prints and team them up with plain outfits for maximum impact. Clashing prints can be daunting, but one easy trick to ease yourself in is to make sure that both pieces have one colour in common.

Whether you’re a colour lover, GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

effortlessly stylish at the same time. I love pairing it with a white tee and black skinny jeans, or a crisp white shirt and midwash straightleg denim for a look that is appropriate for pretty much anything.

And finally, if you’re feeling a little braver and want to explore TOP RIGHT: WHITE SHIRT, JDY, £16.00 the world of BOTTOM LEFT: BOYFRIEND BLAZER IN BEIGE, blazers even STRADIVARIUS, £45.99 further, why not try out BOTTOM RIGHT: CAMEL DOUBLE BREASTED faux leather; BLAZER, TOPSHOP, £49.00 my most a style that recent began to obsessions is my caramel beige reign supreme towards the back blazer from Topshop, which end of last year. They make for an somehow manages to make awesome slick substitute for our literally any look that little bit well-loved moto jackets, while still more sleek and put-together, yet packing a real style punch.

TOP LEFT: KIMOMO HIGH WAIST MOM JEANS WITH ORGANIC COTTON IN MID BLUE, MONKI, £40.00

or prefer to keep things simple and muted, don't shy away from lighter more traditional shades; a grey blazer is an absolute must for easy office styling and can be paired with white, black and most colours in between. One of GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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HEARTY NO-MEAT BURGERS

Recipe by The Gibraltar Vegan instagram.com/thegibraltarvegan

Who doesn’t love a good burger? No one! Who will love these hearty no meat burgers?

Everyone!

INGREDIENTS

•

1 pinch salt

•

400g meatless mince (I use The Meatless Farm Co available in Morrisons. If you buy frozen mince defrost it first.)

•

Black pepper

•

1 granny Smith apple

•

1 shallot

1. Chop the shallot up finely.

Grate the Granny Smith apple including the skin.

•

2 tsp wholegrain mustard

•

100g breadcrumbs

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This recipe makes six burgers METHOD

2. Place all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine.

3. Using a heart shaped cutter create the burgers by stuffing the mixture into them and removing the cutter.

4. Either cook in the oven for 25minutes at 170 degrees or fry in a pan until golden and crispy on the outside. I prefer the oven method.

5. Serve with lettuce, vegan cheese and your favourite relishes or sauces.

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

I LOVE CHURROS WITH CHOCOLATE ALMOND BAILEYS SAUCE Love is in the air, the world is filled with heart shaped foods, goods and even baristas draw one ontop of your coffee. Heart shaped churros brings together Gibraltar’s love for churros with their love for others. Add this to a delicious almond Baileys chocolate sauce and you have a combination any taste bud would love.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

•

250ml water

•

250g plain flour

•

2½ tbsp white sugar

1. Boil the water and add the sugar and salt. Wait for it to be dissolved.

•

½ tsp salt

•

2 tbsp vegetable oil

•

300ml vegetable oil to fry the churros in

•

75g vegan chocolate

•

6 tsp almond baileys

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

2. Remove the saucepan away from the heat.

3. Add the oil and then mix in the flour until it is all blended.

4. Let it cool.

5. Heat the oil on a medium heat in the saucepan.

6. Pour the mixture into a piping bag and squeeze it out into the shape of a heart. Alternatively roll out the shape on a floured chopping board and place into the oil. Fry until they are golden brown.

7. Melt the chocolate over boiling water and add the almond Baileys.

Stir until it is all blended.

8. Serve the churros warm if possible but they are good to keep for a couple of days in the fridge.

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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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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

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 Garrison Library Tel: 200 77418 2 Library Ramp Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm. Free Library tour offered every Friday at 11am. chris.tavares@gibraltargarrisonlibrary.gi 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.

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.

John Mackintosh Hall Tel: 200 75669 Includes cafeteria, theatre, exhibition rooms and library. 308 Main Street 9.30am - 11pm Mon-Fri.

Gibraltar Services Police Emergency Nos: (5) 5026 / (5) 3598 Gibraltar Public Holidays 2020 New Year’s Day Commonwealth Day Good Friday Easter Monday

Monday 1st Jan Monday 09th Mar Friday 10th Apr Monday 13nd Apr

Workers Memorial Day Tuesday 28th Apr May Day

Friday 1st May

75th anniversary of VE Day Friday 8th May Spring Bank Holiday

Monday 25th May

Queen’s Birthday

Monday 15th June

Late Summer Bank Holiday

Monday 31st Aug

Gibraltar National Day Tuesday 10th Sept Christmas Day Boxing Day

Friday 25th Dec Thursday 28th 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 FEBRUARY 2020

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

CLIMATE CHANGE & CARBON FOOTPRINTS

Zeus comes to terms with the new science.

BY PETER SCHIRMER

‘C

limate change and carbon footprints…

Mark my words, those will be the buzz-words for the new decade, and I’ve a good mind to write to the newspapers about ’em. Tell politicians what they should be doing to placate the great Gaea.’

Zeus puffed contentedly on his cigar, and blew a perfect smoke ring which floated halo-like above Athena and her ever-present iPad. So pleased was the Father of the Gods with this effect, that he drew in a deeper swirl of smoke, and turned towards Aphrodite; but the spasmodic tic 86

which - prompted by Gibraltar’s high humidity - had afflicted his ageing facial muscles since the Olympians’ arrival on the Rock, punctured the ‘phwhou’ of his puckered lips.

Instead of a coronet, his daughter’s head was engulfed in a dense cloud of Cuban smoke whose strong aroma would have delighted Winston Churchill or a healthy, youthful Fidel Castro, but induced in the goddess a wracking cough. The vial of emerald nail varnish that had been delicately poised on her knee toppled onto the leopard-skin rug at her feet, adding a spatter of green to the

dead creature’s golden-yellow spots.

Zeus ignored her unladylike curses.

Zeus ignored her unladylike curses and returned to his theme.

‘They can’t go leaving carbon footprints all over the Earth Mother, and expect that she won’t react,’ he continued, nodding at Hermes who had come in from the balcony where he had fed the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

satire mob of gulls he was attempting to tame.

For once, Athena took pity on her parent.

‘Gaea doesn’t like carbon footprints any more than Hera does when someone’s muddy boots tramp across that fluffy white carpet she got for Christmas…’

‘What, actually, is a carbon footprint?’ Hebe wanted to know.

It was a phrase that had rung with a sense of knowledge and science which Zeus had adsorbed, but whose meaning he had yet to grasp. He frowned, searching for an explanation… anything…

‘Well take those bushfires in Australia, when fire-fighters walk across an area the flames have devastated, bits of burnt wood and ash stick to their boots, and…’

For once, Athena – who usually enjoyed Zeus’ discomfort as he tried to wriggle out of an intellectual pitfall he had made for himself – took pity on her parent.

‘It’s the amount of carbon dioxide, sometimes also described as “greenhouse gases” released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organisation, or community,’ she read from her iPad. ‘Just what I was about to say,’ huffed Zeus.

‘So it’s not just from fires – there’s also the exhaust from cars and jet engines?’ said Hebe. ‘I wonder if anyone has calculated how big the GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

carbon footprint is of a peak-hour queue of cars, and lorries, and motorcycles at the border. It must be huge.’

‘And what about those Post Office vans and other official vehicles that employees use to run their families to Morrisons or the beach at weekends?’ added Hermes, still rankling at a manager’s recent refusal to let him enjoy one of these perks. ‘Or the chauffeurdriven limos that the Cabinet Ministers seem to use… even for trips of a few hundred yards they could easily walk.’

‘Pshaw! They never walk anywhere,’ Zeus intervened as he sensed his climate change conversation was slipping away from his control. ‘That’s why the pavements are in such a state.

If the Minister for roads or for tourism ever used them, there would soon be improvements.’

Knickers, and T-shirts, sheets and pillowcases – they’re hardly welcoming banners.

‘Yes. Take Glacis Road; Not just locals use it, but it’s also the main drag for tourists and visitors who walk from the frontier into the centre of town. But the paving is cracked and uneven and I’ve seen several people sprawl after catching a foot on a broken bit.

Nearly tumbled a few times myself but for the wings on my sandals,’ added Hermes.

‘And all that laundry hung to dry outside the blocks of flats

– knickers, and T-shirts, and pyjamas, and nighties, and sheets and pillowcases – they’re hardly the sort of welcoming banners to greet the first-time visitor,’ Aphrodite joined in. ‘Though at least the Gibraltar Day flags and swimming costumes and colourful beach towels do give the council blocks a faintly festive touch in summer-time…’

‘That’s probably what “climate change” is about,’ mused Zeus.

[This was another of the phrases the Father of the Gods had added to his verbal lexicon because he liked the alliteration, but without fully grasping its meaning.] ‘The clothes people wear in summer are lighter, cooler than their winter woolies.’

‘According to the Geographic Society,’ Athena corrected him, ‘climate change “refers to significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer”.’

‘Scientific gobbledygook,’ muttered Zeus, who had begun to regret the conversation he had started, but was nonetheless determined to retain possession of the two significant phrases of the second decade… or was it the third? Hera would know, but he would wait until she was alone, and the sprogs couldn’t hear.

His amour proper had been punctured enough for one day, and he should give some thought to writing to the papers about ministerial shoe-leather and its possible beneficial impact of Gibraltar’s carbon footprint. He could see the headline now: MINISTERS URGED TO WALK TO SAVE THE PLANET.

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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 FEBRUARY 2020

Š DANIEL GHIO

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information

CRUISE SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 2020 ARRIVAL

VESSEL

ETD

PASS

OPERATOR

CAPACITY

Sat 08 Feb 20, 12:00

SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY

21:00 -

-

Tue 11 Feb 20, 12:00

OCEANA

23:00 British

P&O

2000

Thu 20 Feb 20, 08:00

MEIN SCHIFF 4

18:00 German

TUI Cruises

2506

28 Jan '20 - 03 Feb '20

DUTY PHARMACY OPENING HOURS

04 Feb ‘20 – 10 Feb ‘20

Monday to Friday (7pm to 9pm) Weekends & public holidays (11am to 1pm & 6pm to 8pm)

11 Feb ‘20 –17 Feb ‘20

For updates, check facebook.com/PharmaGuide

18 Feb ‘20 – 24 Feb ‘20

25 Feb ‘20 –02 Mar ‘20

-

Family Pharmacy

151 Main Street 200 68861

Calpe Pharmacy

233 Main Street 200 77231

Omega Pharmacy

13 Cooperage Lane 200 44544

Ocean Pharmacy

Unit 2 Ocean Village Avenue 200 76822

Calpe Pharmacy

93 Main Street 200 77230

CHESS PUZZLE ANSWER: The sacrifice 1Ng6 + wins.

90

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

information

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 2020 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

17:20

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

AT990

Royal Air Maroc

Tangier

19:25

AT991

20:05

Tangier

EZY8901

easyJet

Gatwick

10:55

EZY8902

11:30

Gatwick

BA490

British Airways

Heathrow

16:30

BA491

17:15

Heathrow

EZY6299

easyJet

Bristol

19:20

EZY6300

20:00

Bristol

EZY1963

easyJet

Manchester

19:55

EZY1964

20:35

Manchester

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

16:30

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

11:15

EZY1964

12:00

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 FEBRUARY 2020

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

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4. R in the phonetic alphabet (5)

2. Author of Lolita (7)

10. How lovers like to be (8) 7 17

12. He is celebrated in the 14th this month (2, 9) 17. In 1929, on 14th February Al Capone was not so loving with this event! (8)

21. Theatre backers; our perfect lovers might be these (6)

23

4. Old magistrate; female of a ruff (5) 6. Film industry awards (6) 11. Soft drink often mixed with Scotch (6,3) 13. Temporarily kayoed by the police (7) 14. Unlawful (7) 15. Wrap around (7) 16. Spanish lover (6)

20. Not wide (6) 22

3. Someone who thinks they know everything (5,4)

5. Bird related to the coot (7)

18. No score in tennis (4)

21

22

1. Nirvana, paradise etc (7)

9. Canoodle (4)

14

16

1. Straight (6)

8. Brave, as men lovers should be (6)

10 9

DOWN

7. West African country formerly the Gold Coast (6)

8

7

ACROSS

18. French lover (5)

22. Senior person; more aged (5) 23. Hanging skin on the throat of cattle etc (6)

& YOU COULD WIN

SUDOKU

lunch for two at

2

January Answers. Apologies for the spelling error of 'erroneous'.

7

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THE WINNER IS:

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9

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Either SNAP and SEND your completed crossword to editor@thegibraltarmagazine.com or RETURN TO THE CLIPPER by 20 th February.

1

1

Megan Gadd

GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020

9

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CHESS COLUMN BY

GRANDMASTER RAY KEENE OBE My Immortal Game The original so called Immortal Game is often regarded as the most brilliant ever played. It is well known but will form the topic of a future article this year.

So impressed were the spectators at this encounter that a runner was employed to dash down The Strand and telegraph the moves to the members of the Cafe de la Regence in Paris. This was the mid nineteenth century equivalent of contemporary 21st century live action streaming of moves.

Although this month’s game in no way compares with the AnderssenKieseritsky Immortal Game played at Simpsons in the Strand in 1851, it still contains some amusing tactical points. The Croatian commentator Antonio Radic, who moderates the most followed youtube chess channel with around 450,000 followers under the nom de plume Agadmator, paid me the generous comment of calling this my Immortal Game.

Indeed, a queen sacrifice is not often seen as early as move five.

My opponent was a prize-winning composer of fairy chess problems, a variant that includes such pieces as nightriders, grasshoppers, camels and locusts.

Antonio Radic, who moderates the most followed youtube chess channel with around 450,000 followers under the nom de plume Agadmator, paid me the generous comment of calling this my Immortal Game.

b) 8 ... 0-0-0 9 Nc4 Qb4 10 a3 Qc5 11 Be3 Qh5 12 Rxd1 is very good for White as he has a very strong attack against Black’s weakened king position.

9 Bxc6+ Kd8 10 Nxf7+ Kc7 11 Bxa8 Bh5 12 Nxh8 e6 Indeed, a queen sacrifice is not often seen as early as 13 0-0 Qb6 14 e5 d5 move five. My opponent was a prize-winning composer of fairy chess problems, a variant that includes such Black pins his hopes on trapping the white bishop ,but er Ray Keene OBE pieces as nightriders, grasshoppers, camels and locusts. this piece now emerges due to a tactical trick. ltar Magazine 13 Kxd1, when material is White: Raymond Keene White: Raymond Keene equal but White will motorise 15 Bxd5 Bb4 16 Be3 Qa5 17 Bxe6 Qxe5 18 Bf4 Black: Game E Fielder o called Immortal is often regarded Black: E Fielder his rook with a4 and Black’s lliant ever London played.

It is well known but 1964 London 1964 development is severely Once again the unfortunate alignment of the black king opic of a future article this year.

Nimzowitsch Defence Nimzowitsch Defence and queen allows an elegant tactical conclusion. lagging.

1d4 Nc6at2this Nf3encounter d6 3e4 Bg4 b) 8 ... 0-0-0 9 Nc4 Qb4 10 were the spectators that a4d5 18 Rxd1 ... Qxf4 19 Nd5+ Black resigns Ne5down The Strand and mployed to dash a3 Qc5 11 Be3 Qh5 12 1d4 Nc6 2 Nf3 d6 3e4 Bg4 4d5 Ne5 moves to the members of the Cafe de la is very good for White as ris. This was the mid nineteenth century he has a very strong attack contemporary 21st century live action Winning Move Puzzle against Black’s weakened king moves.

8 ... bxc6 position. month’s game in no way compares with This loses Better are:

rtal

- Kieseritsky Immortal Game played at he Strand in 1851, it still contains some al points. The Croatian commentator , who moderates the most followed channel with around 450,000 followers de plume Agadmator, paid me the ment of calling this my Immortal Game.

a) 8 ... a6 9 b4 Qxb5 10 Nxb5 axb5 11 cxb7 Rb8 12 Nc6 13 Kd8 Kxd1,10when material is equal but White will 9Rxb7 Bxc6+ Nxf7+ Kc7 11 motorise with Black’s development is Bxa8 Bh5his 12rook Nxh8 e6a413and 0-0 severely lagging.

Qb6 14 e5 d5 b) 8 ... 0-0-0 9 Nc4 Qb4 10 a3 Qc5 11 Be3 Qh5 12 Rxd1 Black pins his hopes is very good for Whiteon as he has a very strong attack trapping the white bishopking ,butposition. Grandmaster Vesselin Topalov. against Black’s weakened Contact The Gibraltar Magazine for this piece now emerges due to a more details. n sacrifice is not often seen as early as 9 Bxc6+trick.

Kd8 10 Nxf7+ Kc7 11 Bxa8 Bh5 12 Nxh8 e6 tactical y opponent was a prize-winning composer 13 0-0 Qb6 14 e5 d5 5 Nxe5 problems, a variant that includes such This Particular game was notable 15 Bxd5 Bb4 Be3onQa5 17 Bxe6 triders, grasshoppers, camels and locusts.

Black pins his 16 hopes trapping the white ,butthat the players 5This Nxe5 forbishop the fact is the earliest in a game that I have sacrificed my Qxe5 18 Bf4 this piece now emergesWhite due totoa play. tactical trick.

This position is from Karpov-Korchnoi, shook hands before the game, This is Second the earliest in athis game thatgoes I queen. place in respect Once again the unfortunate ond Keene London 1984. Anatoly Karpov they the had not done for something to the game Keene-Orly, London 1961 which went 1 e4 have sacrificed my queen.

Second der 15 Bxd5 Bb4 16 Be3 Qa5 17and Bxe6 Qxe5world 18 Bf4 alignment of the black king celebrated former champion, time has joined thethe a considerable due to Nf6 2 in e5this Nd5respect 3d4 Nb6goes 4d5 e6 dxe6 fxe6 6Bd3 Nc6 place to5the prestigious Chess Academy queen allows an elegant tacticalGibraltar 7Qh5+ g6 when 8Qxg6+ hxg6 9 Bxg6+ Ke7 10 Bg5 was animosity generated during their Defence game Keene-Orly, London 1961 Once again the unfortunate of the black king alongalignment with distinguished Grandmaster Vesselin Topalov. conclusion. mate. world championship battles.

How and queen allows an elegant conclusion. which went 1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 Contacttactical The Gibraltar Magazine did Karpov conclude? for more details.

3d4 Nb6 4d5 e6 5 dxe6 fxe6 6Bd3 5...Bxd1 6Bb5+ c6 7dxc6 Qa5+ 8 Nc3 18 19 Nd5+ Nd5+Black Blackresigns resigns 3 d6 3e4 Bg4 4d5 Ne5 18 ... ... Qxf4 Qxf4 19 Nc6 7Qh5+ g6 when 8Qxg6+ hxg6 This Particular game was notable for the fact that the 9 Bxg6+ Ke7 10 Bg5 was mate. players shook hands before the game, something they had not done for a considerable time due PUZZLE Winning Move Puzzle 5...Bxd1 6Bb5+ c6 7dxc6 Qa5+ to the animosity generated during their world championship battles. How did Karpov 8 Nc3 conclude?

Answer: The sacrifice 1Ng6 + wins.

liest in a game that I have sacrificed my place in this respect goes White to play. This position is from Karpov-Korchnoi, eene-Orly, London 1961 which went 1 e4 London 1984. Anatoly Karpov the 3d4 Nb6 4d5 e6 5 dxe6 fxe6 6Bd3 Nc6 celebrated former world champion, White to play.

This position is fromhas joined the ... bxc6 en 8Qxg6+ 8hxg6 9 Bxg6+ Ke7 10 Bg5 was prestigious Gibraltar Chess Academy Karpov-Korchnoi, London 1984.

This loses Better are: along with distinguished Grandmaster Vesselin Topalov.

8 ... bxc6 Anatoly Karpov the celebrated a) 8 ... a6 9Better b4 Qxb5 10 Nxb5 axb5 11 cxb7 Rb8 12The Nc6 Contact Magazine This loses are: former worldGibraltar champion, has joined White will 5+ c6 7dxc6Rxb7 Qa5+138 Kxd1, Nc3 when material is equal butthe for more details.Gibraltar Chess prestigious a) 8 ... a6 9 b4 Qxb5 10 Nxb5 motorise his rook with a4 and Black’s development is Academy along with distinguished axb5 11 lagging. cxb7 Rb8 12 Nc6 Rxb7 severely This Particular game was notable for the fact that the b) 8 ... 0-0-0 9 Nc4 Qb4 10 a3 Qc5 11 Be3players Qh5 12shook Rxd1 hands before the game, is very good for White as he has a very strong attack they had not done for a considerable time due something GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2020 against Black’s weakened king position. to the animosity generated during their world championship battles. How did Karpov

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