Issuu

NOVEMBER 2017

Editor’s note

November 2017

Bay leaves are a symbol of strength and have become synonymous with the call for justice following the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. She had planted a bay leaf tree in her garden for a symbolic reason; the word ‘Daphne’ comes from the Greek word for ‘bay leaf ’.

JOANNA DEMARCO Editor

ANN DINGLI Ann is an art and design writer who moves back and forth between Malta, London and New York. She runs I think I like it – a blog that discusses art, architecture and design in a frank and relatable way. www.anndingli.com www.think-like-it.com

ROBERTA RANDON Full-time mother and primary school teacher, who enjoys ranting whilst looking on the brightside. MAGDA AZAB Magda is an Italian Illustrator based in Malta, she creates colourful illustrations, working with strong shapes and vector textures in order to give her distinctive touch. www.magdaazab.it DORIANNE MAMO Dorianne is a content creator and a fashion stylist. She’s interested in all things fashion, travel and beauty and blogs on whatever she finds intriguing on www.askdorianne.com REBECCA CAMILLERI Rebecca describes herself as adventurous with a passion for fitness and travel. With a positive attitude towards life, she tries to find the good in everything and everyone. @munch.abunch MATTHEW SPITERI Matthew Spiteri is a local, award-winning fashion photographer. Find him on his ‘Matthew B Spiteri photographer’ Facebook page.

ALEX DEMARCO When he is not playing, watching or reading about football, Alex enjoys writing about it. ARABELLA HOGG Arabella is a mummy, journalist and content writer living in Malta, keeping up to date with the world’s ever-changing pop-culture and the latest trends. Follow us on Instagram @firstmagazinemalta Want to be a contributor? Email us on first@independent.com.mt

Editor Joanna Demarco jdemarco@independent.com.mt Advertising & advert placements Claire Bondin Gafà cgafa@independent.com.mt Designer Conrad Bondin cbondin@independent.com.mt Production manager Andre Camilleri acamilleri@independent.com.mt Artwork coordinator Christine Spiteri cmifsud@independent.com.mt Publisher Standard Publications, Standard House, Birkikara Hill, St Julian’s. Tel: 00356-2134-5888 Printer Print it E-mail first@independent.com.mt Online www.independent.com.mt Facebook firstmagazine First is published every month as a complimentary magazine with The Malta Independent on Sunday and is not to be sold separately.

Contributors

CONTENTS [ NOVE MBE R ISSUE 2017 ]

18.

CONVERSATION WITH Ben Camille

TRIBUTE

50.

A tribute to Daphne Caruana Galizia, the editor and aesthete

Apple and butternut squash soup

22.

STYLE

Maternity styling tips

10.

INSIDE

A group of Maltese went to the USA to find the Maltese communities scattered around. This is what they found

16.

BOOKMARK

November 2017

Vigil for Daphne Caruana Galizia

24.

FASHION Step outside

36.

ART

Young Maltese artist Gabriel Buttigieg on his upcoming exhibition

FOOD

38.

BOOKMARK Rolex Middlesea Race

41.

ARCHITECTURE New meets old at Villa Castro

46.

TECHNOLOGY Meet the three young Maltese entrepreneurs behind latest football app ‘POANG’

53.

AWARENESS National Diabetes awareness month

60. DIARY

Some suggestions for what to do and watch and read, and where to eat this November

Interview

CONVERSATION WITH Ben Camille

FIRST MAGAZINE SPEAKS TO BEN CAMILLE, STRADA STRETTA ACTOR AND PROTAGONIST OF HIS OWN NEW REALITY SHOW ‘BENJAMIN’.

Interview and photography by Baskal Mallia YOU’VE RECENTLY LAUNCHED YOUR NEW REALITY TV SHOW – ‘BENJAMIN’. HOW IS IT GOING AND HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GET ON WITH LIFE WITH CAMERAS AROUND YOU? It’s going very well – the feedback has been enormous. To be honest with you, I didn’t think it would be this big. It was very strange to be surrounded by cameras all the time. I mean, I’m used to having cameras around me, but I’m either acting or presenting: this is very different. Having said that, like most things – I guess – you get used to it and I now forget that the cameras are around me (I look up and made sure the cameraman is still there as I write this!) FROM WHERE DID THE IDEA ORIGINATE? There was an opportunity in the market. A number of commercial entities were approaching me, wanting me to endorse their services/products. However, from what they were telling me, they were all finding it difficult to find the right, innovative mediums by which to communicate their particular brand/service with their target audience. They all wanted something different, fresh and entertaining, yet real. Having said all this, initially I was wary about the whole reality show idea. It sounded a bit too ego-centric for my liking. However, after a number of meetings and convincing from various influential people in the industry, I accepted the challenge. One of the most important things for me was the production house that was to produce this reality show. This is my life and the lives of my family that I was dealing with here, so I needed to feel very comfortable with the people we would be working with literally every day.

November 2017

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THIS NEW SHOW? With the huge exposure that Benjamin is getting on a national level, I am better able to achieve the goals I am working towards. In-between all the entertainment and ‘straight to the point’ remakes from Carina, I am able to work towards creating more awareness about medical conditions, helping abandoned animals, working hand-in-hand with the Malta Community Chest Fund and L-Istrina as well as visiting schools to keep fighting the fight against bullying and spreading positivity in general.

YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED SOME BACKLASH ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER YOUR TNEJNTNEJN TALK SHOW WITH PEPPI AZZOPARDI AND MARK LAWRENCE ZAMMIT. LOOKING BACK NOW, DO YOU THINK THAT THE GAME YOU PLAYED ON AIR WAS A BAD IDEA? Not at all. I think the game was a fun and innocent idea, which is why I was so worried – and sad – when I read the comments. It is sad and worrying to see how some people’s first reactions to such a light-hearted and innocent game (with no bad intentions whatsoever) was interpreted as something negative and ‘evil’. Some people even when to the extreme of saying that it was promoting ‘rape culture’… come on! I could not believe my eyes when I read this. It is worrying to see this. Due to the viral backlash it created, out of respect I contacted almost all the girls who featured in the photographs and asked how they felt about it. They all laughed when I asked if they were offended by the game. They all knew the intentions were purely fun and light entertainment with no mal-intent. I was further surprised about a week or so after this video, when the same video, playing the same game, was posted on my Facebook page again, but this time around it was Claudia Faniello playing the game and she was choosing men instead of women. And this time the comments from the public were completely different. When Claudia was playing it was “cute and funny”. I’M SURE YOU’RE AT THE POINT WHERE, WHEREVER YOU GO IN MALTA, SOMEONE APPROACHES YOU. HOW DOES THIS FEEL? It feels nice. I love it when people come and say ‘hello’, ask for a photo or just want a chat: I really do enjoy it. Being in front of a camera, as opposed to being on stage for example, eliminates the live and immediate interaction from your audience, so having people stop you in the streets and give you their feedback is great. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY A ROLE IN ANY MOVIE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I don’t know! I’m quite open to any role, given the right production team and story line. Maybe playing a political character, as I would really like to do a local drama based on politics. Malta’s most loved actors/actress in a local TV drama combined with Malta’s most loved topic; politics, on prime-time national TV – what more can you ask for!

Inside

CHASING MALTESENESS

FIRST MEETS THE LATITUDE 36 TEAM IN NEW YORK TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DOCUMENTARY â€“ WHICH FORMS PART OF THE VALLETTA 2018 CULTURAL PROGRAMME IN THE RUN-UP TO THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE. THE TEAM HAS BEEN TRAVELLING ACROSS DIFFERENT STATES, SEEKING OUT AND INTERVIEWING THE DISPERSED MALTESE COMMUNITY TO HEAR THEIR PERSONAL MIGRATORY STORY.

November 2017

Words by Ann Dingli.Photography by Seb Tanti Burlo

“Being Maltese is a special thing,” she stresses, “being part of something that’s small and different, with levels of history and layers of differences. I’m still trying to figure out what Malteseness is – that’s really what this [project] is all about. Because people don’t really talk about Maltese identity, and I think we need to.” November 2017 11

Inside t is Friday, 29 September, and New York City is humming with activity. It is a bright day – the sun is beating down on hundreds of city-dwellers cascading out of Subway exits and onto the unrelenting avenues. The crisp, white façade of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Guggenheim museum blazes into view as it stands stoically on New York’s 89th street. Amidst the ice-cream vendors and knock-off art stalls stands a denim-jacketed figure, head bowed in concentration, sketching on a pad that is hardly bigger than his fist. Sebastian Tanti Burlo’ has been recruited by documentary film-maker and oral historian Charlie Cauchi to form part of her team of

intrepid documentarians. They’ve been on the road for around three weeks, travelling around North America and Canada to collect material for Latitude 36 – a project chronicling the stories of Maltese migrant communities abroad. Tanti Burlo’ has specifically been brought in to record the process through photographs and illustrations –scouted by Cauchi for his wellknown, politically-charged cartoons, and his daringly truthful portraits. Cauchi and a third team member, Ali Tollervey, who has been brought on board to photograph and film the experience, extinguish their hand-rolled cigarettes and gather up their filming equipment. They still have a week or so

“It’s completely surreal – your mental synapses are torn apart and reassembled in one swoop”.

left of their tour of America and the travel toll is evident in their initial silence. Cauchi’s control over the trio’s dynamic is apparent as soon as she opens her mouth: she’s directing not just the documentary, but the whole experience. “Latitude 36 is a transmedia project – it’s working on a lot of different levels with many different artists,” she explains, attempting to distil the complex, multi-disciplinary project into a concise summary. “[The project is] split into three parts: Leaving Latitude 36, Returning to Latitude 36 and Visiting Latitude 36. The first part – leaving – is what we’re researching right now. It’s about the people who have left the island, and about me leaving to find those people and have them talk about their experience as Maltese migrants. We’re documenting them through audio-visual accounts, Sebastian’s drawings and, in some respects, writing as well.” Cauchi goes on to list a handful of artists from different disciplines – including performance and live-art – who are all involved in the project to some extent. But what is clear is that she is both the engine and the glue that is keeping the team and focus firmly on the axis she set out to follow. “It’s called Latitude 36 because those are the coordinates where Malta lies,” Cauchi continues to explain. “The main point of this project is to compare [the different migrant communities] we encounter, because there’s a big difference between the Maltese that moved to Detroit and the Maltese that are in Canada, for example.”

November 2017

Cauchi is finishing her PhD in Film Studies – her background is in film theory and history. She sometimes does the filming for Latitude 36 herself, as well as writing for the project, but for the bulk of the team’s travels she has been the person guiding the conversations. The team are in New York for the last leg of the production, but they have already spent time in Toronto, Ontario (Windsor and London), West Virginia and Detroit. Cauchi’s greater ambition is to eventually visit Tunisia, Egypt, France and Brussels but, as the project has limited funds, she is still looking for more funding for that.

The trio have seen and spoken to scores of Maltese migrants – mostly families whose parents or grandparents moved to the US and Canada in the 1940s and 50s to find work after the war. Although decades have passed since they settled in their adopted homes, Cauchi, Tanti Burlo‘ and Tollervey vouch for the overwhelming sameness they experienced when interacting with these communities.

“One thing that really struck me was when we visited Lansing, Michigan, where they’ve just passed a Bill to make 21 September officially ‘Maltese-American Day.” “I’d walk into a Maltese club [in Detroit], and I’d forget where I was,” Cauchi exclaims. “Then I’d step back outside and say – oh, hold on, I’m not in Malta anymore.” The team all cite Detroit as having had the greatest impact on them. They describe the Maltese migrants they encountered there as having religiously protected their identities and origins – enshrining traditional Maltese idiosyncrasies and elevating them to a near-sacred status. “That’s quite a stark thing – the way the Maltese people in these communities have kept their Malteseness embalmed somehow – it feels like it never shifted, like you’re back in the 70s,” Cauchi says. “What people wear is fascinating – the Maltese cross as jewellery is everywhere…”, “Or the lace head-veil,” Tanti Burlo’ chimes in. “Yes – and the woman wearing it was young: She was in her thirties! We wouldn’t do that. But they’ve kind of kept this old, real love [for Malta]”.

“Detroit is going through a process of gentrification,” Cauchi explains, “and many of the buildings there have been saved because Maltese people bought them. They have a strong ‘we can do anything’ attitude. And, you know what? So many of the people who have moved away have done amazing things.” The team describes the way in which some of the areas they visited have been uplifted by the care, devotion and investment of the Maltese migrants who live there. They explain how the Maltese came to Detroit as workers and converted their toil and energy into class mobility – eventually joining the ranks of the American middle class. They bought property, formed clubs and created a distinct Maltese presence amongst their neighbours. In other words, and in true Maltese fashion – they showed up, and they weren’t quiet about it. But this boisterous self-advocacy is not as immediately apparent in places such as Toronto, where the Maltese are more discreet about their

impact on their community. This documentary seeks to capture that very difference in communal character whilst chronicling – without prejudice –all the hard work that has been in play over many years by the Maltese in the various – and – different places where they have settled. “Some of the Maltese people we met came here as migrants with nothing; they worked super hard, integrated into the community, and have now established themselves,” Cauchi says. “One thing that really struck me was when we visited Lansing, Michigan, where they’ve just passed a Bill to make 21 September officially ‘Maltese-American Day’. We watched the state representative, Darren Camilleri – whose father is Maltese – present the Bill to the Senate. There was something so beautiful about the moment when all the Maltese people present were asked to stand and clap. These people had been there since the 40s – and they’ve become a big part of this culture. It was really touching.” But despite their willingness to contribute to their new-found home, the Maltese migrants that the Latitude team encountered seem to be somewhat stuck in a patch of temporal quicksand. Cauchi describes their vision of Malta as one that no longer exists in its ▶

November 2017

“Visually and emotionally, Detroit was the place that really stayed with me,” Tanti Burlo’ says. “We really embedded ourselves in the community and the characters we met embraced us with open arms. We met a guy who ran a Maltese bar, Leno, beautiful character.

And it’s strange because you’re in Detroit, and all of a sudden you’re in a każin, with Kinnie and pastizzi, and there’s a festa with ġbejniet, rabbit and mqarrun. It’s completely surreal – your mental synapses are torn apart and reassembled in one swoop”.

Inside

◀ wholeness: a Malta that has been radically romanticised and passed down migrant generations forming a strange, illusionary transcendence. “An interesting pattern emerged in Detroit and Toronto amongst people who left Malta in the 40s and 50s. They have an idea of a Malta that doesn’t exist anymore. They talk about this fictitious, fairy-tale Mediterranean island and their children talk about it in the same way,” Cauchi explains. “Malta is a beautiful island, but it’s not the same place.”

November 2017

However, the team does find that there are certain Maltese traits that ring true even in these far-away societies. Their hosting skills – the warmth and ability to make people feel included – are palpable, but they’ve also managed to hang on to homeland traits that are less positive. “The not working together is something that exists – we don’t work together very well as a collective in Malta. It’s very naval-gazing and ‘about me’, and that has stuck,” Cauchi says. “The ‘I don’t trust you if you’re an outsider’ thing has also stuck – we do that a lot and it’s a trait that has remained”.

The team’s long stint of travelling, recording and observing is slowly coming to a pause in their wider tour. They will be spending the next 10 days in New York,

navigating the city’s dense strata of human activity to seek out Maltese groups and to once again be transported into a parallel universe of identity-collision. By the time this article goes to print, they will have moved on to London and eventually back to Malta – a final sojourn that will provide them with the sense of perspective that only sheer distance and, in their case, a different time-zone, can offer. As a result of their travels tapering into a different phase, they’ve each taken time to reflect on the adhesive thread that has run through the entire experience – Malteseness. What is it? How does it change when you remove yourself from the island? “I moved to Malta when I was 12 and lived there until I was 24, so when I’m in Malta people think of me as British, and when I’m in England they know me as Maltese,” Cauchi says. (Her father was born in Malta and moved to East London in his adulthood.) “The question people always ask me is: ‘Where are you from?’ and it’s the hardest one to answer.” “The uniqueness of it is what I like,” Tanti Burlo’ adds. “With other nationalities, people can latch onto a given perception. With Italians, it’s pizza and pasta, British and Americans also have their own set of perceptions. But saying you’re Maltese is like picking up a Joker from a pack of cards. And

you can be playful with that.” Playfulness and the malleability of identity seem to be the concepts that recur continually in the descriptions of the people the team have met. They talk about second generation migrants who have never visited Malta, can’t speak Maltese, but insist that their children attend Maltese language lessons. They describe their next appointment –a wrestling match at a Catholic school hall with a Maltese wrestler known as ‘Malta the Damager’. Cauchi mentions earlier interviews in London, where Maltese migrants spoke out in favour of Brexit because “too many foreigners” are taking “their” jobs. So, there’s an overriding pushing and pulling of authenticity, straining the definition of national identity to its tensest point. And, for Cauchi, that’s the most exciting part of the project. “Being Maltese is a special thing,” she stresses, “being part of something that’s small and different, with levels of history and layers of differences. I’m still trying to figure out what Malteseness is – that’s really what this [project] is all about. Because people don’t really talk about Maltese identity, and I think we need to.” For more information about Latitude 36 visit the project’s official website www.latitude36.org

November 2017

Bookmark

A woman pushes her candle closer to the others in mourning at a vigil in Sliema, following the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

A yacht passes in front of Valletta at the annual Rolex Middle Sea Race last month. Over 104 yachts partook in the competition this year.

November 2017 17

Tribute

A TRIBUTE TO DAPHNE, THE EDITOR AND AESTHETE

November 2017

In Daphne Caruana Galiziaâ€™s professional life, on one hand she was a bold investigative journalist, and on the other, perhaps less recognized side, a classy lifestyle magazine editor. As a tribute to Daphne, the editor and aesthete, first magazine spoke to Taste&Flair designer and Daphneâ€™s long-time publishing comrade, Ramon Micallef.

Words by Joanna Demarco

“ “ “ “ “ “

”

It’s not getting any better out in the streets, so do your best to have a ‘leave the world outside’ home to come back to.

”

Character comes over years, and with life, in rooms, as well as in people.

Where homes are concerned, we are all to a large extent masters of our own destiny. If we cannot afford to spend money on them and stuff them full of lovely things and comfortable pieces, we can at least keep them clean, look after what we’ve got, and do our best with what we find for a good price.

” ” ” ”

We only get one spin at the wheel, and spending it in a constant state of unhappy near-starvation is not only going to get us nowhere, it is also truly silly. So all things in moderation, and lets take pleasure in the good things. It’s so easy to forget they are a blessing and a privilege, rather than a threat to our well-being and our dress size.

Houses need to be kept alive, like wardrobes – they too become dated, worn out, and dull.

It’s all about quality. Poor quality remains poor quality, whatever the period.

November 2017

Background: Screenshot of Daphne’s Pinterest account. All quotes are by Daphne Caruana Galizia from her Taste&Flair editorials.

Tribute round the inside of a room in the offices of The Malta Independent, copies of Daphne’s Taste&Flair magazines are stacked in piles, in a fortification-like manner. Each of these piles is not only a pile of magazines but also a pile of ideas: meals, furnishings, décor and detail, all colourfully chosen and detailed and carefully edited by Daphne over the past decade or so. A few days after the tragic news of her brutal killing, her Pinterest account was resurfaced and shared on social media. One person posted it alongside the words ‘...her styling spoke of another form of politics; of hope, of belief in what this country had to offer, and ultimately, of beauty. From her ethnic inspired chandelier earrings to how she spoke about the great romanticism of unkempt gardens, Daphne Caruana Galizia was an aesthete.’ Indeed, clicking on her public Pinterest page is really like having an insight into what appealed to her aesthetically. She pinned and neatly categorised compilations of subjects that tickled her visual interest: botanical prints, pineapples, indoor plants, old chintz, shells and découpages, to name a few. As a tribute to Daphne – the person who knew quality when she saw it – we spoke to Ramon Micallef, her long-term colleague and designer.

How would you describe Daphne as an editor and colleague? Daphne was a super-organised work machine. As a magazine editor, she had the ability to be both superefficient and still creative at the same time. Every month, we allocated a slot to work on Taste&Flair… an incredibly short time window of 48 hours, in which we used to design the whole publication. Ramon Micallef

Needless to say, more often than not this meant a super-concentrated effort which would in itself include two sleepless nights. And yet, no matter how many times we tried to span it over more days, we always ended up squashing it all in this time capsule. For those two days, Daphne would drop off her blog (to the disappointment of her followers), and focus entirely on getting the magazine ready. We hardly met. We had a strong email relationship based on many years of knowing and understanding each other. From an editorial side, she was incredible… she would send me proof-read text in advance, and I only recall a couple of occasions when she asked me to do text corrections. I think she was every designer’s dream editor and colleague.

For how long had you worked with her and what different publications did you work on together?

November 2017

I worked with Daphne on several publications. When I started off in my career, as a young 17-year old at JP Advertising, she was editor of the Sunday Times Magazine. I always used to admire her way of being able to raise three boys – who are practically the same age – and come to the office to discuss page designs.

At that time, things were different. No email meant that there had to be more physical presence: corrections and changes had to be marked and done there and then, not to mention the fact that, upon approval, everything had to go through the mechanical darkroom

process before going to print. After that, there was another period of time in the mid-1990s when she was the editor of Highflyer magazine, an MIA publication which I used to design too. In 2003, we worked on a book for her friend Matty Cremona: A Year in the Country and contemporaneously, my wife and design partner Antoinette designed another book for her, Tisjir biz-zejt tazZebbuga. I think that working on these two books kicked in her the idea of a food-dedicated magazine. A year later, after regular discussions at our favourite Prego coffee shop in Valletta, we launched Taste magazine, which was immediately very well-received by the general public. Up to today, it has reached 103 issues – all of which I am proud to have designed. A couple of years after we launched Taste, she also started another two magazines: Flair, which was the sister publication of Taste, and Town. Antoinette used to work on these other two publications which were eventually integrated into the present Taste&Flair.

As the designer of Daphne’s magazine, what could you say about her aesthetic? Daphne was a very colourful person; she loved to be surrounded by artists, books and culture and the magazine represents very much her appreciation of beauty. When she started Taste, she wanted to make sure that it was not just another Sunday newspaper magazine. By then, I knew her well enough to understand what she wanted, and I remember showing her my initial design ideas and watching her eyes glow with excitement. She invested heavily in photography, always commissioning the best local photographers to give her the quality of the images she wanted. Eventually, she became more involved in this, and she used to attend the actual photo-shoots and even style them herself – turning up on set with bags of books, newspaper cuttings and other props which she felt would give an added level to the end product.

Many people imagine Daphne as the journalist she was through her online blog, but I feel that Taste&Flair showed a very different side of her. Do you agree? I agree 100 per cent. In her blog, Daphne used to write about the things that she disliked and condemned what irritated her. In Taste & Flair, she wrote about what she loved and what she considered as beautiful. Through the magazine, the harsh critic and purveyor of truth mellowed into the softer, feminine artistic person that those who were lucky enough to be closer to her know. The blog represented her black and white side, where there was no room for anything in between. On the other hand, the magazine was a mirror of her rainbow side.

What did you learn from Daphne? It is impossible not to learn anything from Daphne. She was a serious professional and an amazing woman. Her sheer determination to accomplish things and to do them in the best possible way is probably the thing I will always cherish. I feel blessed to have been lucky enough to be very close to her and her amazing family and friends.

Maternity

â€˜You can literally live in leggingsâ€™ (and other maternity styling tips)

November 2017

Words by Arabella Hogg. Illustration by Magda Azab

regnancy: a true miracle. A time when a woman creates human life, transforming a tiny seedling into a blossoming, bouncing baby. (OK, yes, men do have something to do with the process, but in the big scheme of things it’s pretty minimal and usually an altogether enjoyable experience!) The productive nine months are depicted in movies and television as somewhat challenging, yet overall quite pleasant, by a glamorous size six actress, strapping some sort of neat little padding around her waist to indicate the baby bump. I have a few issues with this: 1) it nowhere near prepares us for the harsh reality of almost a year of discomfort and 2) it portrays a very unrealistic image of a real-life pregnant woman’s body. When I found out that I was expecting my second child, my initial joyful reaction – imagining a tiny little newborn in my arms – was followed by a feeling of dread that my body would once again expand to seemingly unimaginable volumes and the gorgeous new additions to my wardrobe would remain there, on their hangers, for many months to come. OK, this may sound a little dramatic but there are two words that really scare me, and these are MATERNITY WEAR. For those of you who have not experienced the woes of maternity wear, let me explain. Expectations for maternity wear are so low: usually, if it covers you up like a giant billowing, highlyelasticated tent, it’s there –

sitting neatly on the racks tucked away in the maternity section amongst the stylish, flattering, trendy clothes in the rest of the shop. Never in your life will you witness as many ruched t-shirts, and trousers with waistbands up to your chest, as you do here. Over time, I have learnt a few ways of dressing my widening hips and Homer Simpson-esque belly, which keep expanding even when you think it can’t possibly grow any bigger.

An A-line dress is your best friend An a-line dress accentuates the smaller section of your torso just under your bust, then widens out over your tummy and hips. This season, floral tea-dresses are everywhere. I purchased two: a maternity version and a non-maternity version, which both work wonders and have taken me through pretty much any occasion for which I need to dress up. I can dress them up in the evening with some heels and a clutch bag or wear them during the day with a pair of trainers, denim jacket and a large tote bag.

You can literally live in leggings Leggings are great because they streeeeeetch. I manage to wear my pre-pregnancy ones just by rolling the waistband over once so it sits comfortably under the bump. You can also find maternity options that extend over your stomach to give more support. Opt for black as it is the most flattering, and wear with a longline t-shirt, a loose-fitting button down shirt, an oversized chunky knit or even a pretty blouse for smarter occasions.

Borrow from your boy

I discovered that my man’s t-shirts and sweaters are the perfect size for a casual everyday look just by rolling up the sleeves or cuffs and pairing with some denim or leggings. This is not to mention the added comfort value of a loose fit!

Find your perfect pair A good pair of maternity jeans will take you through your whole pregnancy and post-baby, when your stomach is tightening back into shape – although, depending on your body shape and your personal style, you do have to shop around to find the right ones. I usually buy one size larger than my usual size, as denim can tend to be uncomfortable if is too tight and the key to a happy pregnancy for me is definitely comfort! Have a walk around in the jeans before you buy them to make sure you don’t have to keep adjusting them as you walk: some of the elasticated waistbands don’t quite do the job. It is undeniable that we live in a generation in which women are supposed to look utterly flawless. An unnatural perspective of the world is shown to us through our handheld devices, a perfectly edited snapshot. It is easy to get sucked into the belief that this is reality. Today we have women labelling themselves as ‘influencers’, a recent marketing tool by brands using people’s social media accounts to sell us certain products. A current trend is pregnant influencers, capturing themselves in the most flattering lighting and pose – I urge you to remember that these girls are just like us, and what they will not be showing you are those off days when no outfit looks right, their hair is a mess and a breakout has appeared on their chin overnight due to raging hormones. My last piece of style advice for any of you mummas-to-be is confidence. It can be difficult to feel good about yourself when your body is changing so dramatically, and any preconceived notions of a ‘pregnancy glow’ may seem truly absurd when you are green with nausea or exhausted from a restless night of 1,000 trips to the bathroom. It is important to know that you are doing great, girl, you’re making magic!

November 2017 23

Fashion

November 2017

STEP OUTSIDE

White sweater (E115) and red one-piece (E295) from KAREN MILLEN. Tosca Blue bronze bag (E123), chunky bracelet (E24) and ring (E25) from PORTO.

Blanket poncho (E79) and navy blue pants (E99) from 1-2-3 PARIS.

November 2017

STYLING: DORIANNE MAMO FROM WWW.ASKDORIANNE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY: MATTHEW B SPITERI HAIR: ROBERT AGIUS FROM STRANJÃ‰ HAIRDRESSING, ATTARD MAKE-UP: GIA MARIE WAITS MODELS: GABRIELLA MIFSUD FROM SUPERNOVA MODEL MANAGEMENT

November 2017

Fashion

White top (E55) and red pencil skirt (E155) from KAREN MILLEN. Jacket with faux fur (E295) from 1-2-3 PARIS.

November 2017

Red coat (E250) from 1-2-3 PARIS. Earrings (E27) and ring (E25) from PORTO.

Fashion

November 2017

Dress (E115) from MONSOON LADIES WEAR. Tosca Blue bronze bag (E163), bracelet (E36) and ring (E25) from PORTO. Ultra ankle boots (E109) from ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES.

Coat (E230) from MONSOON LADIES WEAR. Tosca Blu red handbag (E185) from PORTO.

November 2017

OUTLETS FEATURED: 1-2-3 PARIS Westin Dragonara Resort, St Julian’s, tel. 21375781. ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES, The Point Shopping Mall, Tigne, tel. 99751057, Valletta, tel. 99892331, Pama Shopping Mall, tel. 99854540, Paola, tel. 99892332, Gozo, tel. 99000106. 21315590. KAREN MILLEN, Old Theatre Street, Valletta, tel: 99897642. MONSOON LADIES WEAR, Tigne Street Sliema, tel. 27072890. PORTO, Portomaso Shopping Complex, St Julian’s, tel. 21372079.

s e t o N

Fashion

from the stylist - November

It's all about RED this Winter. And with Christmas round the corner, we don't even need excuses for that! ; )

s p Ti

Stessy heels (â‚Ź89) from ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES.

*Uh, and since it's all about reds - do go for a red lip!

you are l e e f u o y *If me the red a t o t t n a w en light h t , h c t o n just a f whites f o d n a s n brow st friend! e b r u o y e ar

November 2017

*Statement earrings are so in again this winter, as opposed to small studs. Same goes with big chunky rings and jewellery. So it's all about chunky, bold, statement pieces and accessories to complete your look and make it that tad edgier! 30

Dori

www.askdorianne.com

Fashion spots

What to wear!

MONSOON LADIES WEAR LOLA EMBROIDERED DRESS Pretty shimmer embroideries on slinky mesh make our Lola dress a sheer delight. Fashioned in a flared silhouette, this floral number is a beautiful choice for the season’s soirees. It is fully lined save for across the shoulders and long sleeves, and fastens at the back with a keyhole and concealed zip.

What the shops recommend

KAREN MILLEN V-NECK PENCIL DRESS – E250 Elevate your nine-to-five style with our teal pencil dress. It has a tasteful V-neckline that draws the eyes to the waist, where cleverly placed ruched details flatter and sculpt the silhouette.

November 2017

1-2-3 PARIS V-NECKS AND ROUND NECKS Go for a timeless look with a classy V-neck: Choose a belted design for some casual and chic allure or a looser cut for a cool and relaxed look. Or why not opt for a round neck for a totally classy and relaxed outfit?

ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES JEWELED STILETTOS – E99 Fit for a queen, our jeweled stilettos are works of art. Tall microfiber suede heels are the canvas for faux jeweled adornment.

KAREN MILLEN METALLIC PLEATED DRESS – E270 Shine bright this party season with our gold V-neck dress . It is suspended from adjustable spaghetti straps and has a metallic fitted bodice with a flattering waistband that leads into an ombre pleated skirt. Let the dress take centre-stage with simple accessories and barely there stilettos.

M&S WOOL BLEND COAT – E195 Prepare yourself for a fashionable autumn with this M&S wool blend coat. Apart from being super cozy, this coat creates an effortlessly smart silhouette.

Advertorial

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November 2017

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Goodbye cash, hello contactless payments with the HSBC Premier Mastercard The HSBC Premier Mastercard is not only about new looks. It now includes contactless technology which lets you pay for everyday small items without the need for cash or the need to enter your PIN every time. The HSBC Premier Mastercard also gives you access to Mastercardâ€™s World programme which offers exceptional benefits related to travel, dining, shopping and other services youâ€™ve come to expect from your Mastercard. Find out more at hsbc.com.mt/premier

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November 2017

Arts

The exhibition will be held at Iniala5, 9th April Street, Mosta from 22 November to 9 December.

Baring all WITH GABRIEL BUTTIGIEG

Maltese artist Gabriel Buttigieg launches his third exhibition. He is intrigued by the human figure in its rawness and does not shy away from exploring that. first visited the artist in his studio in Paola. Words by Roberta Randon. Photography by Joanna Demarco. abriel Buttigieg is currently working on his third solo exhibition. The 24-year-old’s first exhibition, Paintings, which was held last year, was comprised of large-scale paintings, while his second exhibition was entitled Nudes. This year, Gabriel will display two facets of his art which relate to one another on a profound level. The exhibition will consist of a Babies series and a Dikil- Qtajra series. They will be presented together, as they are both inspired by his father’s somewhat controversial book Dikil-Qtajra.

These series are inspired by the belief that everything – both directly and indirectly – is influenced by sex, which does not refer to the physical act alone but also to pleasurable actions and thoughts. As an artist, Gabriel seeks to portray the reality of human beings in their rawest form; baring the physical and psychological. Of course, just like any artist, his own personal experiences affect his work. Painting is his therapy; it is a period during which his thoughts roam free and translate onto canvas. His subconscious takes over and he is led by a paint brush and music.

Beyond the strong language and raw imagery expressed in the book, Gabriel was struck by the complex psyche of an unborn child and the instinctive energy shared between men and women. The idea that one is born with an innate identity resonates in Gabriel’s current work and it taps heavily into Freudian theory. Gabriel’s interest in Freud, particularly in the id part of one’s ego, has influenced his art tremendously. His depiction focuses on how the id dominates an individual in terms of impulsiveness, appetite and sexual desires. To those who are unfamiliar with Freud’s philosophy, he believed that one’s psyche is structured in three levels: the id, ego and superego. The id is the most primitive and instinctive part of the mind, is governed by a pleasure principle and is most noticeable in babies. In other words, it wants to feel good all the time with no consideration for reality or consequences. Gabriel’s Babies series portrays this strong sense of identity and thoughts. It involves a number of different babies, each with their own personality but all sharing a pensive facial expression as they are lost in thought. They are presented in a raw and realistic manner in which they are not stiff and posed. Rather, the Babies are painted truthfully, with a sense of life experience that defies their innocence.

is already working on another series of paintings which are influenced by a recent personal experience. Once a phase in his life is over, he dedicates time to it by expressing it in different works of art. Live models – who often sit in the studio for four hours at a time, photographs, memories and, of course, imagination are his muse. For all their rawness, Gabriel’s paintings express a sense of the delicacy and vulnerability of human nature. He does not shy away from reality but rather chooses to immortalise it.

November 2017

The Dikil-Qtajra series is a set of snapshots of an intimate couple, whereby the paintings replicate spontaneous photographs shared between two people in love who are expecting a child. Hence, there is what can be deemed as a ‘love triangle’, as all needs and desires strive to be satisfied between the three people. Admittedly, as an artist and self-critic, Gabriel points out that it can be perceived as somewhat sexist. The male subject appears to be sexually charged while the female feels protective and concerned for their baby. Therefore the different sexual energy and chemistry bounces off these individuals.

Gabriel is fascinated by human figures and has been familiar with the work of Amadeo Modigliani since the tender age of eight. He developed an interest in the lines and figures of different models and soon found himself sketching people and becoming increasingly intrigued by the reality of those individuals.

November 2017

Bookmark

A yacht passes in front of Valletta at the annual Rolex Middle Sea Race last month. Over 104 yachts partook in the competition this year.

November 2017 39

TIME IS ONE OF THE CENTRAL ELEMENTS OF VILLA CASTRO, THE LOCAL PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR A PRIZE AT THE WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL 2017. DESIGNED BY ARCHITECTURE PROJECT (AP) IN COLLABORATION WITH JENS BRUENSLOW, THE VILLA COULD POTENTIALLY BRING HOME THE AWARD IN THE NEW & OLD – COMPLETED BUILDINGS CATEGORY. FIRST MAGAZINE SPOKE TO JENS BRUENSLOW AND AP’S KONRAD BUHAGIAR ABOUT THE PROJECT. Words by Joanna Demarco.

November 2017

Photo by Julian Vassallo

Architecture

Architecture he latest intervention on Villa Castro is seen as yet another addition to the history of the circa three-century-old building, “albeit a very important one,” notes Konrad Buhagiar, the Architecture Project (AP) partner behind the venture. The refurbished project is the result of an intense seven years of dedication. The words ‘new’ and ‘old’ are both infused with connotations of time, and the fact that they are somehow linked through the embodiment of a building brings to the surface a curious question on chronology. Buhagiar highlighted the fact that the new addition to the building will embellish it with a new form and spirit whilst respecting the old fabric and qualities of the existing space. While on the one hand it is designed to contrast with the structure by using different materials, such as glass and timber, it will also eventually be homogenised in time. “It is envisaged that, with time, the timber will weather and acquire a patina, creating a harmonious composition with the old walls. So time is also an element of the composition – it lies latent on the old walls and dormant in the new ones,” said Buhagiar.

While there are many other aspects to the project that are equally important, Bruenslow also believes that time has played an important role in a variety of ways. “For one, a lot of time was spent on the project, which was developed over several years and underwent several changes and adjustments over time,” he said. The project was carried out between 2009 and 2016. “One of the big challenges was to retain the homogeneity, which required stamina, belief and discipline.” Bruenslow went on to list other factors of time which have an impact on the building. “There are different times of the day when the light changes the feel and appearance of the house radically –it’s almost like a sun dial,” he said. “Then there is the way the house – with its old and new parts – will weather harmoniously and the materials, their connections and details, have been chosen and considered with that in mind. And then there is the bigger picture of how the house sits in time. It has its own history, of course, and has seen many changes in the past – both in itself as well as in its surroundings – and now another chapter has been added to its history.” “One could maybe apply Christopher Alexander’s proposal from the opening of his book ‘The timeless way of building’ in which he says that “It is a process which brings order out of nothing but ourselves; it cannot be attained, but will happen of its own accord, if we will only let it.” Naturally, “ourselves”, in this case, does not refer to an individual, but to our history and experience and the fabric which surrounds us. So therefore, in this project, the volumes, the proportions and the materiality of the existing building determined the principles of how old and new would meet, connect and relate, and how, nonetheless, the new part would still be recognizable as a body of its time.”

FINDING THE OLD Why the villa was named ‘Villa Castro’ is still not clear: it is not known whether it is somehow linked by name to its original owners. However, the word ‘castro’ refers to a fortified village and that could be relevant, considering the villa’s position in connection with a fortification network. In the second half of the 17th century, many Maltese migrated from the harbour area due to the exhaustion of the building stock of the new city of Valletta. This migration expanded what was the original Naxxar settlement and it is understood that the house, at the edge of the original settlement, was most likely built in the 18th century. Later additions were made in the 19th century. The architectural style of the building is plain and unadorned, with a façade not as imposing as the traditional town houses built in the same period. It was discovered that the garden of the house was located over an extensive network of large water cisterns with a wellhead located at the entrance of the house. The presence of stone water channels on the perimeter of the planted areas is witness to traditional irrigation practices.

Photo by Alex Attard

November 2017

BLENDING IN THE NEW The programme of the project was organised around the needs of the family, with guestrooms to accommodate relatives and friends. The garden and two internal courtyards were preserved. An extension was designed

Photo by Alex Attard

â€œIt is envisaged that, with time, the timber will weather and acquire a patina, creating a harmonious composition with the old walls.â€? and grafted on one of the boundary walls to mitigate the negative visual impact of the recent adjacent block of apartments. The restoration of the building included securing the dangerous parts, removing inserted structures and accretions â€“ which conflicted with the authentic organisation of space or with the clarity of architectural form, the re-opening of blocked arches and the introduction of a few additional openings in order to allow more light in and to strengthen the symmetry of the garden and courtyard facades. The stone water channels were preserved and reinstalled around the planted garden area. The garden pavement was made out of the old stone slabs which were found on the site, restored and re-laid.

In order to blend in with the old building, screens made out of a specifically-chosen wood compliment the new extension. Their function is twofold: they allow the maximum amount of light to flow inside the house and also create a monolithic appearance from the outside, to co-exist with the old building. Over time, the American cedar screens will acquire a natural protective patina of silvery grey that blends in with the limestone surfaces of the old house. Like all projects that involve the rehabilitation and extension of old buildings, time is an important element of the composition from which the building is made and that important element will unravel with time. AP won the Transport Category at the INSIDE festival with the Barrakka Lift in 2013 and has been shortlisted before for other projects. Projects from another 68 countries have been short-listed for the 2017 awards. The winners will be selected and announced during the festival, which will take place at Arena Berlin from 15 to 17 November. The project has also been shortlisted

November 2017

The ground floor was left for living and entertainment. In order to identify the boundary between indoor and outdoor living, one of the smaller courtyards was roofed over and turned into a conservatory. The upper floor is dedicated to individual bedrooms. An external access balcony was added, replacing an existing open balcony that was probably introduced during the second half of the 20th century and a new stairwell designed in contemporary style was installed in an existing backyard.

A new extension was built overlooking the garden to provide accommodation for guests and screen off the new development. Thus is raised over the ground on slender columns in order not to obstruct the cornices and pilasters and the pediment of the gate that once led to the garden beyond.

Directed by Chris Gatt & Adapted by Marylu Coppini 22nd December to 2nd January Shows at 3pm & 7:30pm - MFCC, Taâ€™ Qali Booking: www.madc.com.mt

Advertorial

SHOE

FILLING CINDERELLA’S

Rachel Tedesco Tricas as Cinderella and Renato Dimech as Baron Flooseless

Rachael Tedesco Triccas will be filling Cinderella’s shoe/s at this year’s MADC panto. The performing artist tells first magazine about strange coincidences, nonconforming princesses and her excitement to be back on the stage. ow and when did your acting career What is your favourite line from the whole script? begin? Can’t reveal my favourite jokes, however something which I started going to a theatre arts school at the age of eight. The first professional musical I was in was the original run of 1565: The Musical when I was 12, and at the age of 15 had my first panto experience as part of the chorus in Masquerade’s first ever pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

struck me is that one of my lines, – ‘let me out, let me out’, – had also been one of my lines as Tinkerbell. I feel it somewhat of an interesting coincidence to reinterpret the same line but through a different character. It also brings about fond memories of such a great experience and a moment of realisation of how much time has passed since then, and how much I have grown and experienced in life!

Is it your first time playing a main role? How are you feeling about it? Choose one; a prince, animals that help you in Not really . At 16 I was given the opportunity to play Tinkerbell whatever you do or a fairy god mother that can give you temporary transformations? in Peter Panto. Since then I had a hiatus from the theatre, taking on roles in TV series and working on my singing career. It was always my dream to return back to the magic of panto, but due to its required commitment wasn’t able to. So psyched to finally be back on stage, with an amazing cast and two dames!

How does Cinderella rank in a list of your favourite Disney princesses?

Hands down, I choose the animals. Finding a prince would be nice, but I’m guessing he won’t come with a guarantee that he will treat me right. The fairy godmother might be fun to have, but theatre transformations come just as close and fun. Animals that help me out (and hopefully speak to me - always wondered what my cats would sound like if they hypothetically had a voice) would be absolutely amazing!

One of the first fairy tales to have read, Cinderella will always be a favourite classic, however I must admit I do like the Disney princesses who offer non-conformist role models to our children! Although the carriage and the prince become imprinted in us as we grow up looking for our fairy tale ending, other tales which encourage girls to fight for their cause rather than wait for their prince, I believe, offer a far more positive lesson.

What is your dream acting role and why?

What is the moral of the story in Cinderella?

This year’s annual panto at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali will have six matinees between Christmas and New Year. The show will run between 22 December 2017 and 2 January 2018. For more information about the show, or to reserve your seats, please visit www.madc.com.mt.

November 2017

I feel Cinderella reminds us of the importance of kindness and gives us hope that karma does exist. On the other hand, we are shown that you do not need to be rich to lead a happy life, but sometimes simple pleasures are what lead to happiness!

I never really had a particular dream role. I feel that as we grow and evolve we are able to deliver different roles accordingly. Sometimes the least expected roles are the most fun as you have to undergo an unexpected transformation. Having said that, I am a huge musical theatre fan, so would be chuffed to play roles which combine the three disciplines!

November 2017

Technology

he month of August is an exciting time for football fans. It marks the return of Europe’s major football leagues and, depending on who you support, instils hope and optimism amongst supporters. Taking on a role similar to that of an expectant father, fans get ready to back their favourite team through another nine months of ups and downs.

perhaps because of the inability to contain their excitement, many fans turn to fantasy football in order to assemble their own team and earn points depending on those players’ real-life performances, or eagerly await the popular football manager game to put their perceived knowledge of the beautiful game to the test.

In the days leading up to the big kick-off,

Last August, whilst most were playing with

these apps, three Maltese friends, Steve, Luca and Patrick, were working on launching one. POANG allows users to build their own team by selecting players from Europe’s major leagues (England, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Portugal and the Netherlands), whilst also having a hands-on approach by being able to improve the team’s stadium, finance and scouting departments.

STARTING OFF WITH A POANG! Fuelled by ambition and belief in their original idea, three young Maltese entrepreneurs quit their fulltime jobs to focus on a novel venture: creating a fantasy football app. Now only three months old, POANG has made a headstart on the download charts. first magazine talks to Steve Zammit Briffa, Luca Amato and Patrick Camilleri, the team behind the start-up.

Words by Alex Demarco. Photography by Joanna Demarco.

it became a role-playing game, but one based on real life.” POANG – which means ‘point’ or ‘score’ in Swedish – has proved to be a major hit in Malta as well as overseas and, at the time of writing, has been downloaded more than 26,000 times. It has taken Steve, Luca and Patrick nearly two years of non-stop hard work, together with plenty of sacrifices

(and coffee) along the way, to get to this point and, with a number of plans in the pipeline, this is just the start of their adventure.

One of the ideas Steve had It all kicked off back in 2015, when Steve bumped into Luca one night and told him about this idea he had, which originally was simply to create a fantasy sports app consisting▶

November 2017

“It’s basically this hybrid thing, the joining of these two elements which, prior to the app, didn’t really exist,” said co-founder Steve Zammit Briffa, elaborating on what sets POANG apart from other fantasy football apps. “So, you have the fantasy sports element which is based on real life, choose players who exist in real life, etc., but then we also included a lot of elements from this simulation management model, so essentially

Technology ◀ of multiple leagues.“I met Luca at a wedding and POANG was one of the few ideas I had had that week,” Steve explained when I met him at the company’s offices in Marsa. When Luca reacted with enthusiasm and support, the two decided to work on it. “I always need someone to action an idea, it always helps to have someone to approve of it and keep dragging it”, said Steve. “So when I told Luca about this idea, and he was actually excited by it, his reaction validated my idea and we ran with it.” The two then got Patrick on board, to be the IT mind within the project. The pair encountered their first stumbling block a couple of months into their work, when Steve discovered that his idea already existed. Rather than downing tools, however, he and Luca decided to reinvent their product and added aspects of the popular football manager franchise which, as Steve puts it, “makes fantasy football a bit less boring.” With POANG’s framework in place, work on the app began gathering pace, with the trio meeting on a daily basis after work until the early hours of the morning. Then last year, with the 2016 European Championships (EURO) just around the corner, they decided to put their concept to the test and see what kind of feedback they got from their users.

Gaining support, leaving comfort The response was overwhelmingly positive and that summer proved to be a turning point for the POANG team, who by then knew that their app stood a very good chance of being successful. “We had been meeting and designing the game on paper and decided to use the EURO as a way to validate the concept and see if people were receptive to the idea,” Luca explained.

November 2017

“So what we did, what Patrick did, was create a very basic website that was based on the EURO but with these very basic concepts – represented in a very basic manner – of what we wanted to do and we created Euro16battle.com.” Having got the approval they sought, planning moved on to what would be required in order to develop their app – and the simple answer was that they needed investors.

So, as Luca explained, the next few months were spent getting in touch with as many contacts as possible, asking whether they would be interested in investing in POANG. Essentially, what the three co-founders were asking was whether anyone was willing to

invest in their idea, rather than the final product, as is normal procedure. In the end, Hili Ventures expressed a keen interest in what POANG was looking to create and following a “long and tiring eight-month process”, decided to grant the start-up the funding that was needed to get their project off the ground. Earlier this year, with Hili Ventures giving them the financial backing they needed, Steve, Luca and Patrick each took the bold step of giving up their full-time jobs in order to focus all their energy on POANG and ensure that it became the successful app that they had long envisaged. Steve, who had previously organised parties and events, is a qualified lawyer, as is Luca, whilst Patrick was an IT manager, but despite acknowledging that leaving their professions was somewhat risky, the three of them were determined to turn their dream into a reality. “The truth is that, yes, in the case of Patrick and me, we gave up a stable income and stable jobs and took pay cuts to do this,” Luca said. “Getting investment obviously helped, but the truth is that, just like in any business, there’s no guaranteed income, which is why you need to be really passionate about what you’re doing. Essentially, life is too short to do things you don’t want to do. While it is a risk, that’s the evaluation that one should make. How passionate are you? If you are passionate enough and you’re lucky enough to be in a position to do it, then you should do it.”

Continuing with a POANG! Despite the early success that POANG has had, the trio are in no way ready to rest on their laurels and work to improve the app is already in the pipeline. For starters, users can expect the game to soon be available as a web version, whilst it will also be accessible via Facebook’s games section. There is also a treat in store for local football lovers, with plans to release a game specifically for the BOV Premier League and First Division teams by the end of this year. In the long run, however, Steve makes it clear that they don’t want to be known just for their fantasy football app and they have a number of ideas on which they would like to work in the future. “Hili invested in us as an app development company, not only in fantasy football,” Steve explained. “We have a lot of ideas – which we think they’re good – and we see ourselves creating, not just other apps, but anything tech or internet related, mainly. We have some cool stuff coming out relatively soon, hopefully.”

Food

What’s in my bowl? Apple and butternut squash soup Rebecca Camilleri, the food-enthusiast behind ‘munch.abunch’, shares simple, colourful, intriguing and nutritious meals, all served in a bowl.

November 2017

utumn is finally here. The weather is getting cooler and a salad for lunch or dinner might not really seem an appealing option. What better way is there to heat things up than with a warm bowl of soup?

Ingredients SOUP • 1 butternut squash • 1 onion, chopped • 1 tsp 100% organic coconut oil • 2 apples, cored and diced with peel on • 2 cups water • ½ tsp ground cinnamon • ½ tsp turmeric • Pinch of ground nutmeg • Ground black pepper • 3 medium carrots, diced • Parsley

Butternut squash is loaded with and is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat. It is one of my favourites because it is very versatile and can be used in various ways: boiled, baked, added to salads and, of course, it also makes a mouth-watering soup! Not only does it taste great but it is good to know the benefits you can get from a single serving. One serving, which is around 200g or 1 cup cooked, contains just 82 calories. A cup of cubed butternut squash contains more potassium than that found in a banana and one serving of butternut squash also provides enough vitamin A and over 50 per cent of the required vitamin C intake for a day. If you’re looking for natural remedies for beautiful hair and skin, make sure to add butternut squash to your diet!

1. Slice butternut squash vertically in half and remove seeds. Keep seeds for later for use as a garnish. 2. Wash squash and microwave for around 20 minutes: it will become soft. 3. Using a knife or peeler, scrape the skin off the squash and cut the flesh into cubes.

Want to make this soup even more nutritious? Roa st the butternu t squash seeds fo r a c o u p le of minutes in the oven and add th em to your soup as garnish! Not on ly do they add a little crunch, but the y are a great source o f protein and fi bre. Adding some ro asted pumpkin seeds can also be a great alternative to c routons.

November 2017

In a large pan, cook the onion with the coconut oil over a low heat until it is soft. Add turmeric, nutmeg and cinnamon and leave to cook for a few minutes to add more flavour to your soup. Add carrots and parsley and mix everything together. Slowly start adding boiling water and mix gradually. Add butternut squash and apples and season with black pepper. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for around 40 minutes. Using a hand-blender, purée the soup to the desired consistency. Place in a bowl, top it off with some hearty toppings and enjoy!

Preparing your ingredients in advance

Follow Rebecca on instagram on ‘munch.abunch’ for regular meal ideas.

Time to make some soup!

GARNISH (optional) • Parsley • Pumpkin seeds • Pine nuts • Butternut squash seeds • No-fat Greek yoghurt

Awareness

LIVING WITH DIABETES

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This year, the theme in focus is ‘Women and Diabetes’. first magazine spoke to Nadia Farrugia Olivari, a woman living with diabetes, about the struggles that come with the condition, and how she has learnt to manage them. Words and photography by Joanna Demarco.

November 2017

ith a contagious smile, whilst trying to keep her five-year old son back from interrupting our interview, the mother of two sat at her kitchen table opposite me, and explained that she has learnt how to manage her condition, type 1 diabetes, so that it is no longer much of a hurdle in her life.▶

Awareness ◀ As an example, she says that she would not think twice about indulging in a piece of dessert when going out to eat. However, due to her condition she “wouldn’t eat cake day after day just for the sake of it” either. It is all about balance. Nadia Farrugia Olivari has been living with diabetes from the age of seven, and is one of the tens of thousands of people who suffer from the condition in Malta. What is diabetes? Diabetes Mellitus is defined by the World Health Organisation as a chronic, metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which, over time if not controlled can lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.

gave her the insulin when needed. The insulin would mimic normal insulin function and normalize blood glucose levels. As the years went by, Nadia learnt how to take it on her own. “It became intertwined in my routine,” she said, pointing out that, whilst growing up, the need to take insulin often interrupted her plans.

How can diabetes be prevented? Those with a family history of diabetes, women with history of gestational diabetes and obese persons are those groups of people who are most likely to suffer from diabetes. In order to reduce the chance of becoming diabetic, a healthier diet, regular exercise and weight control is recommended.

Type 1 diabetes (also called juvenileonset or insulin-dependent diabetes), is the less common type of diabetes, where your body does not produce insulin. Without insulin, cells cannot absorb sugar (glucose), which they need in order to produce energy.

Type 2 diabetes, the more common type of diabetes, causes the sufferer’s body to not make or use insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes, (formerly called adult-onset or non-insulindependent diabetes) can develop at any age. It most commonly becomes apparent during adulthood, but the number of cases of type 2 diabetes in children is rising. This type of diabetes accounts for the vast majority of people who have diabetes, 90 to 95 out of 100 diabetics. Long-term, having too much glucose in your blood can create serious problems. Eyes, kidneys and nerves could be damaged. It can also cause heart disease, stroke and the need for amputations. The chances of this happening increases when diabetes is not controlled.

“I used to have to take insulin half an hour before I ate, and that was a bit of a nuisance, as it would interfere with my plans,” she said. “For example I would have had to go home if I was out, or eating something when out was a bit of a problem, because how could I be sure the food would arrive exactly half an hour after?”

However, for the past seven years, Nadia’s newer form of insulin allows her to have more of a normal foodconsumption pattern, increasing timeflexibility and thus providing her with more of a normal routine. She now measures what she is eating and calculates her insulin intake accordingly. With hardly any hindrance in her day-to-day life, she said that she now does these things automatically. When in doubt, she has a book to guide her with regards to her intake. “For example, for every ten grammes of carbohydrates I take one unit of insulin,” she explained. With the knowledge that insulin can result in weight gain, Nadia makes it a point to do some sort of physical exercise every day, be it a half-hour walk or an afternoon of going up and down a flight of stairs to complete the laundry. Nadia’s management over her condition is now more controlled. However, she recalls a time, a couple of years back, when the stability in her life was shaky and therefore her grasp over diabetes had loosened and her health suffered.

Check if you have diabetes

Shockingly, Malta has one of the highest percentages of diabetes worldwide. According to the Head of Diabetes at Mater Dei Hospital, Professor Stephen Fava, “this is probably related to both genetic factors and lifestyle habits,” and there is evidence that the numbers are increasing locally. The symptoms which led to Nadia finding out that she had diabetes began when she was five years old, developing from asthma and severe chest infections.

One can check if they have diabetes by taking a blood test. In the light of November being Diabetes awareness month, the Maltese Diabetes Association will be providing a free blood glucose monitoring service, encouraging the general public to take the first step in getting tested for diabetes. It will be held on Saturday 25 November from 10am at Pama shopping village Mosta.

November 2017

“After these symptoms started to emerge, I had done some tests at hospital and they had told me that I had type 1 diabetes,” she recalled.

Since she was only a child, Nadia’s mother took care of her and

“I passed through a phase when things were going on in life and I admit, my diabetes was not that controlled, I was not stable, and there were consequences,” she said, explaining that, because of that period of lack of control, her eyesight in one eye is permanently damaged. However, Nadia acknowledges the consequences and stated that she is “just grateful she has enough eyesight to see her children grow up.”

“When controlled, you can live a normal life,” she concluded. “In my case, because of this bad period I went through, I have poor vision from one eye. That affects me a bit, but other than that I live a relatively normal life. I do exercise, I eat normally, I go to work, I drive,” she smiled.

Valor, Master chocolatiers since 1881, combine tradition and vanguard in their range of products.

Products spots

Shopping basket What the shops recommend LE LIFT FLASH EYE REVITALIZER Le Lift Flash Eye Revitaliser. With its ultra-fresh, vitaminenriched serum roll-on and its anti-fatigue revitalizing patches, the high-impact duo lifts and illuminates the eye area in just two steps, while reducing puffiness and dark circles.

LE LIFT LOTION Le Lift Lotion is a prelude to every woman’s beauty ritual. This moisturizing, smoothing and firming lotion balances the skin to preserve the integrity of its barrier function. Formulated with a “magnetic water” complex, it diffuses its active ingredients within the epidermis, notably the active ingredient 3.5-DA. The skin is hydrated and regains its suppleness and softness, ready to receive the skincare products applied afterwards.

SKIN-RECOVERY SLEEP MASK At night, skin never sleeps. It works tirelessly and regenerates itself continuously as the cell renewal mechanism goes into overdrive. This is the optimal time to apply a night care product and offer skin targeted anti-aging effectiveness. This holds true not only for the face, but also the neck and décolleté: two very delicate areas that need special care due to their thin skin and the effects of gravity while the body is in a reclining position during sleep. This is why Chanel has completed its expert firming anti-wrinkle line with Le Lift Skin-Recovery Sleep Mask.

LE LIFT V-FLASH Le Lift V-Flash is the ideal face care for women seeking an instant dose of youthful-looking radiance. This true radiance booster provides an instant tensing effect. The outline of the face is redefi ned and the features are smoothed. Any trace of fatigue is erased, instantly!

Cancer Care is designed to provide important financial aid should an individual be diagnosed with cancer, and is intended to provide peace of mind to the Life Assured. A unique product within the local market. For more information visit www.cancercare.com.mt or call us on 21342342. GlobalCapital Life Insurance Limited is authorized to transact Long Term Insurance Business and is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority. Registered address: GlobalCapital Life Insurance Limited, Testaferrata Street, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1403, Malta. COM:GCL026

NESCAFÉ Azera takes instant to another level. NESCAFÉ Azera Americano is a smooth blend of instant coffee and finely ground roast coffee beans. The beauty of this blend lies within its full bodied flavour, enticing aroma and irresistible layer of coffee crema. If you’re looking for something darker, stronger and uniquely bolder then NESCAFÉ Azera Intenso is for you! NESCAFÉ Azera. Be Your Own Barista.

November 2017

MOMA – MAKING OATS MORE AWESOME The Cranberry and Raisin Porridge Pot is gluten free, high in protein, wholegrain, suitable for vegetarians and simple to prepare. Simply remove the lid and boil the kettle, pour hot water to the ‘fill’ line inside the pot, stir it (the water level will drop but do not refill), wait for five minutes and tuck in. The product is imported by J.Calleja Import & Export Ltd. Visit www.jcallejaltd.com or email at storelocator@jcallejaltd.com.

Advertorial

NEW AUTUMN WINTER

COLLECTION Punt Roma presents the New Autumn Winter 2017 - 2018 Collection for a dynamic and vital woman. Garments with functional designs create elegant and sophisticated outfits for daily life. The trendiest garment is the Bomber jacket in different versions. It is also important to emphasise garments as parkas, dresses and jackets where different fabricâ€™s textures are mixed. This autumnwinter we can enjoy a wide range of colours, from the cold winter tones, such as steel grey and black to the fantasy colours like burgundy and red, in coats and parkas. The relaxing moment arrives with the natural tones such as kaki, earth and blues and also with sophisticated flowers and squares prints. A casual urban style that surely enhances the most feminine silhouette.

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PRADA: L’HOMME ET LA FEMME INTENSE By zooming into the very essence of male and female identity, L’Homme et La Femme Intense, the new fragrances by Prada reveal heightened realities, greater complexities, and increased fluidity from within the olfactory experience. L’Homme Prada Intense multiplies the idea of a binary dialogue between ingredients. Intense Amber and Patchouli notes cross paths with the refinement of Iris, while the introduction of Tonka Beans brings an airy, oriental dimension to the top end. La Femme Prada Intense is a thorough exploration of the most traditional olfactory trope in feminine fragrance – the flower. Tuberose base is multiplied, while abundant doses of Ylang-Ylang are further enhanced by the introduction of Patchouli. Exclusively Distributed by Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery Limited Tel: 21331553

WE ARE GIVING AWAY A bottle Valentina Blush by Valentino EDP 50ml – !76 courtesy of Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery. FOR A CHANCE TO WIN, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: ON WHICH DATE WILL ‘MALTESE-AMERICAN DAY’ BE CELEBRATED IN LANSING, MICHIGAN?

CAROLINA HERRERA: 212 VIP BLACK Carolina Herrera remains inspired by the spirit of New York —the melting pot of people, their cultures, their beauty, their energy. 212 VIP Black is a unique cocktail of the strong and the subtle, with vibrant kingwood and chilled vodka. It’s a strong drink that gets you going and keeps you dancing until morning. 212 VIP Black is the scent of the party animal—he’s charismatic, witty, the life of the party. He knows how to include everyone and we like that. Exclusively Distributed by Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery Limited Tel: 21331553

WINNER FROM THE OCTOBER ISSUE Paul Chetcuti from St Paul’s Bay has won a bottle Jean Paul Gaultier – Le Male Eau Fraiche EDT 100ml courtesy of Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery.

November 2017

Like First magazine on Facebook and send your answer the good, old-fashioned way, by post, to: FIRST COMPETITION, The Malta Independent on Sunday, Birkirkara Hill, St Julian’s, by 30 October.

SAY GOODBYE TO DANDRUFF If you need a solution to get rid of your dandruff, try Dercos Anti-Dandruff shampoo for an advanced action, even against Seborrheic Dermatitis. Available for both dry, and normal to greasy hair the shampoo contains Selenium DS to eliminate dandruff, balance the scalp, and relieve it from itching sensations. A shampoo that purifies the scalp, helping it regain comfort, health, and long-lasting regulation with a six-week anti-relapse action. Efficacy tested under dermatological control. 85% of users have said that Dercos Anti-Dandruff shampoo makes hair more beautiful and moisturised with 97% saying they like the texture! Find it in pharmacies. For more info or a sample email vichy@prohealth.com.mt.

Diary

Do Watch Eat Read ▶ November 2017 60

VASCAS OPEN WEEKEND ▶ Vascas will be opening its doors to the public for an open weekend. Expect a number of exhibitions, consisting of pearls, diamonds and a number of high-end brands, such as: Maison Tatiana Fabergé, Paladino, Bremont, Siké and Cameo, whilst also displaying their range of jewellery, watches and homeware. 1st to 3rd December from 9am to 7pm. Vascas outlet in Naxxar.

MALTA COMIC CON Celebrating comic culture in Malta. 2nd December – 3rd December at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. DANNY’S A new bistro to grab a tasty snack throughout the morning or afternoon. Experimenting with a variety of cuisines. From healthy meals to tasty soups, cheeky breakfasts and perfect craving combinations such as the skinny fries topped with shredded beef and apple and leek mayo. Open from 9am to 4pm in Qormi. ▶

EAT

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THE APS MDINA CATHEDRAL CONTEMPORARY ART BIENNALE The annual biennale, taking place at the Mdina Cathedral Museum, will run under the theme ‘The Mediterranean: A Sea of Conflicting Spiritualities’. It will exhibit the work of Maltese and international artists who will each develop new work based on the theme. 13th November – 8th January at the Mdina Cathedral Museum.

Diary

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Do Watch Eat Read

DIK IL-QTAJRA & BABIES SERIES BY GABRIEL BUTTIGIEG This cycle of paintings are snapshots of tumultuous sexual encounters and their possible outcomes where Buttigieg reflects on the origins of human individuals and their nature, which are rooted in his lifelong conviction that everything about human character is decided by the genetic material that is inherited from one’s mother and father. 22nd November – 9th December at Iniala5 gallery, Mosta.

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EAT

READ

PATRIA ▶ A book by Maltese author Gabriel Schembri. Four individuals meet to come up with a plan to target racists in Malta. The book follows a young history teacher who is invited to join a meeting in the dead of night. He discovers that their leader has some radical views on how to deal with racists in Malta. The other members, reluctant as they may seem, have the right reasons to fuel their will to act. Available from all leading bookstores.

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DIAR IL-BNIET The cosy, homey, authentic Maltese restaurant in the village of Dingli has extended its space, increasing its seating capacity as well as its menu. Keeping in mind that the Diar il-Bniet philosophy being farm-to-plate, fresh-produce centric, The new menu includes a wider variety in selections of the Maltese Ftira and Mejda Maltija. Wine and deli tasting and cooking a craft classes will also be introduced within the extended establishment. At Diar il-Bniet, you feel like you’re eating at nanna’s house. Call 27620727 for reservations.

EAT

EMMA’S KITCHEN PUMPKIN SOUP IS BACK November means return of the warming meals, exchanging ice cream for cake and salads with soup. The Pumpkin soup with apple and chorizo at Emma’s Kitchen will fill your tummy and warm your spirits. Hurry up, Malta’s cold days are limited!

November 2017

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BIRTHDAY SUIT – A PRODUCTION BY MASQUERADE It’s Richard’s 40th birthday party. Only one colleague turns up, the one new to the firm, and brings her boyfriend along. It looks like Diane and Nick are in for a long evening, trapped with their peculiar host and their own anxieties, until someone does turn up. Someone with a lot of history and an appetite for revenge. A sharp and biting new comedy, from one of the UK’s funniest up-and-coming writers David K Barnes. Directed by Anthony Bezzina, the cast is made up of Malcolm Galea, Larissa Bonaci, Joe Azzopardi and Tina Rizzo. Running on weekends till the 26th November at Blue Box. Tickets from www.bluebox.com.mt

DIABETES CHECK Free blood glucose monitoring In the light of November being Diabetes awareness month, the Maltese Diabetes Association will be providing this free service, encouraging the general public to take the first step in getting tested for diabetes. Saturday 25th November from 10am at Pama shopping village Mosta

HOMESPUN MARKET An array of stalls will sell a variety of products from Malta’s vintage crafters, designers, upcyclers, recyclers and collectors. There will also be a tea & cake room. It’s not too early to think of original Christmas gifts, whilst supporting local talent. 26th November 125pm. Funky Monkey, Manoel Island.

WATCH

SESAME STREET A show with the message that no matter where you are from or where you have been, everyone is special. Join Elmo, Grover, Abby, Cadabby and their Sesame Street friends. Welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India. Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies. 18th and 19th November Mediterranean Conference Centre. Tickets from www.ticketline.com.mt

AN IDEAL GIFT FOR BIRTHDAYS OR CHRISTMAS... UNLIMITED PARK VISITS *

€100

€50

FO 12 M O NRT

FOR S H 12 M O N T

*This card is valid for one (1) person for 12 (twelve) months

*This card is valid for four (4) persons for 12 (twelve) months

from the date of issue. It allows unlimited entrance and park visits to the Mediterraneo Marine Park.

ON PRESENTATION OF THESE CARDS, THE HOLDER MAY BENEFIT FROM A 5% FIVE DISCOUNT ON PURCHASES MADE DURING EACH VISIT INSIDE THE PARK. Terms and condi ons apply.

A visit to the Mediterraneo Marine Park is a great way for adults and children to experience some of the beau es of Marine life. Through specific educa onal programmes, which include the interac on with different species of animals hosted at the Park, we propagate knowledge following the highest standards in both animal and personnel welfare. The animals present at the Park are cared for by a number of professionals, namely Animal Carers, Marine biologists and veterinary surgeons, who are all specialized in the various fields. Besides the bo lenose dolphins, the Park boasts a large selec on of different animal species including South American Sea Lions, Parrots, Green Wing Amazons, Snakes, Tortoises, Turtles, Frogs, Toads, Spiders, Scorpions and various kinds of Lizards. We welcome you to enjoy the wonderful diversity of these creatures that share the planet with us – thus remembering that, it is their world too!

Baħar Iċ-Ċagħaq, Malta | +356 2137 2218 | +356 2137 6519 | info@mediterraneopark.com | www.mediterraneopark.com