FIRST December 2020

DECEMBER 2020

A CAPSULE OF THE WORLD

WINTER GARDEN

To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

EDITORIAL

IN THE MIDST OF WINTER, THERE IS A BIRTH

Winter Garden “Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”

Joseph Campbell

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ho of us can live with the everlasting fire?

(Isaiah 33:14)...

Your heart either burns out of love or out of hate, but burn it does; and every feeling, emotion, thought, and word has consequences, and its silences too, so that our greatest guilt and fear is an omission of love, always an omission of love, but most of us have numbed ourselves into a cold indifference as a means of survival rather than a real birth.

Covid, if it has taught us anything, is to embrace the things we enjoy doing in a simplified manner, but with more authenticity.

Adoration of the Shepherds, anonymous, 1550 - 1599, oil on panel, 205 x 142cm. Rijkmuseum, Amsterdam ON THE COVER. The intricate wrought iron goat gate leading to the side garden at Villa Bolgna, taken from the gorgeous new book Country Villas in XVIII Century Malta, by Carmel Spiteri, published by Kite Group. Photography by Charles Paul Azzopardi, courtesy Kite Group.

EDITORIAL CONTENT AND SALES MANAGER SEAN ELLUL SELLUL@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT DESIGNER CONRAD BONDIN CBONDIN@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDRE CAMILLERI ACAMILLERI@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PUBLISHER STANDARD PUBLICATIONS, STANDARD HOUSE, BIRKIKARA HILL, ST JULIAN’S. TEL: 00356 2134 5888, WEB: WWW.INDEPENDENT.COM.MT FACEBOOK FIRSTMAGAZINE PRINTER PRINT-IT. FIRST IS PUBLISHED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY. NO PART OF THE PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE PUBLISHER. FIRST MAGAZINE SINCE 1993.

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CONTENTS

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Villas for the leisured in Country Villas in XVIII Century Malta. Villa Preziosi, scenographic stairs, detail.

Photograph Charles Paul Azzopardi, courtesy Kite Group.

24 The Small Winter Garden of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna,

by Konstantin Ukhtomsky. The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Photograph © The State Hermitage Museum.

Capturing the smells of Europe’s cultural heritage.

Still Life with Fruit, Oysters and a Porcelain Bowl, Abraham Mignon, 1660 – 1679. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

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The Magical New Forest.

Photograph Annie Spratt.

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Soccer superstar Maradona in May 1987 – Napoli had clinched its first Italian major league title. Photograph Massimo Sambucetti/AP File Photo.

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CONTENTS [DE CEMB ER I S SU E 2 0 2 0 ] 6

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Converting interiors into pleasant surroundings, especially desirous during inclement days.

Christmas Indulgences.

Low-carb, low-fat? What’s better for weight-loss asks Richard Geres.

WINTER GARDEN

HEALTH & FITNESS

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Villas for the leisured.

Country Villas in XVIII Century Malta.

The Hand of God. Argentine Soccer Star Diego Maradona.

ARCHITECTURE

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HISTORICAL SCENTS In Search of Scents.

Capturing the smells of Europe’s cultural heritage.

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Our First Vice President.

Meeting Roberta Metsola.

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SUPERSTAR

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EDUCATION

Educators are an integral part of our nation’s human wealth, writes Malta’s Minister for Education, Justyne Caruana.

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COFFEE TABLE

Décors Barbares.

Patterns, colour, bold prints – these are the enchanting interiors of Nathalie Farman-Farma.

PHOTO DIGEST

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Sweet Dreams.

It is the season for sweet treats, says the team of chefs at The Mediterranean Culinary.

A Lesson from the Past.

The New Forest.

SUSTAINABILITY

Creating Opportunities.

Dr Miriam Dalli, Malta’s Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development on sustainable development goals.

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HEALTHCARE

To us, care means everything, says Natalie Briffa Farrugia, CEO of the CareMalta Group.

Bold patterns in Décors Barbares: The Enchanting Interiors of Nathalie Farman-Farma.

Photograph Miguel Flores-Vianna, courtesy of Vendome Press.

SWEET TREATS

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ANTIQUITIES

Up For Grabs.

Highlights from Christie’s Classic Week Antiquities Sale.

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CHRISTMAS STORY

A short Christmas story.

Rocky, the Small Owl, and the Giant Tree.

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The small surprise in this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas.

Photograph Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer.

It’s the season for sweet treats says the team of chefs at The Mediterranean Culinary. Photograph Robert Pace.

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A Roman marble terminal figure of Dionysus, circa 2nd century A.D. up for auction at Christie’s Classic Week Antiquities Sale.

Photograph © Christie’s Images Limited 2020.

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WINTER GARDEN

Ukhtomsky, Konstantin. Interiors of the Winter Palace. The Small Winter Garden of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. Russia. 1870s. Paper.

Watercolour. 24,6x19,5 cm. Inv. no. ОР-26525. The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Photograph © The State Hermitage Museum.

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WINTER GARDEN

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.

A Robin Redbreast in a Cage Puts all Heaven in a Rage.

A dove house fill’d with doves and pigeons Shudders Hell thro’ all its regions.”

William Blake

Winter Garden

Ukhtomsky, Konstantin.

Interiors of the Winter Palace.

The Winter Garden. Russia. 1870s.

Paper. Watercolour. 36,6x27 cm.

Inv. no. ОР-14376. The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

Photograph © The State Hermitage Museum.

The whole idea of indoor plants and conservatories stems back to some of the celebrated Royal winter gardens created in the nineteenth century and before. An excellent example is the small Winter Garden of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg rendered in gouache by Konstantin Andreyevich Ukhtomsky, circa 1850. The original intention was to convert the interiors into a pleasant surrounding, especially desirous during inclement days. Photography courtesy of The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

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WINTER GARDEN

Ukhtomsky, Konstantin.

Interiors of the Winter Palace. The Winter Garden of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.

Russia. 1870s. Paper.

Watercolour. 27,8x23,7 cm. Inv. no. ОР-26524.

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.

Photograph © The State Hermitage Museum.

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winter garden is generally an extension of a living room to house plants, exotic or not, which do not tolerate colder or extreme weather conditions, and is a means of providing the outdoors indoors in an effort to connect with nature in the darker hours of winter.

Winter gardens were a must-have in the castles of nineteenth-century nobility, often to house collections of palms. Generally overlooking gardens or parks, interior winter gardens were often used for tea or more intimate receptions. Today, winter gardens are an extension of the living room making the transition between the house and garden itself effortless.

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ARCHITECTURE

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ARCHITECTURE

VILLAS FOR THE LEISURED

COUNTRY VILLAS IN XVIII CENTURY MALTA The back elevation of Villa Gourgion. The terrace, a buffer zone between the villa and the formal garden.

'The golden age was the eighteenth century when a friendly rivalry prevailed among the leisured classes for architecturally fine houses catering for an elegantly relaxed living in idyllic settings", writes Prof Mario Buhagiar in the foreward to this new book Country Villas in XVIII Century Malta by Carmel Spiteri, published by Kite Group. With a focus on three particular estates, Villa Preziosi, Villa Bologna and Villa Gourgion, step inside gorgeous country villas beautifully photographed in B&W throughout.

Photography Charles Paul Azzopardi, courtesy Kite Group.

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ARCHITECTURE

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ountry Villas in XVIII Century Malta reviews an interesting niche subject in the history of the architecture of the Maltese Islands, that of the construction of suburban villas for the leisured classes in the eighteenth century.

The trend of building villas outside city walls in Malta was established by the Knights of St John, and the leisured classes on the island soon followed suit. Owners moved with their families to their country villas in spring when the gardens were in full bloom.

This new book focuses on three particular estates, Villa Preziosi, Villa Bologna and Villa Gourgion, all built in the eighteenth century in an area known as the Three Villages, which still boasts of a significant concentration of similar country villas.

Prof Mario Buhagiar, who penned the foreword to this book, states that the country villas presented "reflect the sophisticated lifestyle and financial wellbeing of the Maltese elitist class in seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. A country-house with extensive grounds in peaceful settings, with the necessary amenities for a relaxed elegant living, was an important pawn in this process of assimilation."

"Villa Gourgion, Villa Preziosi and Villa Bologna share a common geographic location but different histories. Spiteri's painstakingly thorough analysis of them is a major breakthrough in the study of the Maltese country villa and its often overlooked and multi-faceted relevance to the island’s rich cultural heritage.�

Above: Villa Preziosi, scenographic stairs, detail.

Left: The main facade of Villa Preziosi.

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ARCHITECTURE

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rof Conrad Thake in the introduction to Spiteri’s work writes that “the fact that all the three suburban villas discussed in this new title were situated in close proximity to each other is not accidental. They are situated within a short distance to the San Anton Palace, one of the main residences of the Grandmaster. One can surmise that the local patrons felt that by constructing their villa in such a location it would demonstrate greater social prestige and symbolically allude to close ties with the ruling Order of St John."

"Underlying the origins of each of these villas there is also an intriguing socio-political subtext. For example, in the case of Villa Bologna, Fabrizio Grech, in his capacity as sindaco of the Maltese Università and uditore or advisor to Grandmaster Pinto, had managed to acquire considerable wealth and wielded significant political influence. However, he lacked the then much vaunted social pedigree of nobility. The villa was intended as a dowry gift by Grech to his daughter Maria Teresa who was engaged to Nicolo Perdicomati Bologna, later to become 2nd Count de la Catena. Grech by his lavish gift of building a grand villa was keen to impress and to compensate for his lack of noble pedigree. This publication provides the reader with a comprehensive exposition of the villa within the context of eighteenthcentury Maltese society.”

Above: Villa Preziosi, scenographic stairs, detail. Right: The second formal garden and the nymphaeum, Villa Preziosi

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ARCHITECTURE

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ll three villas were surveyed in order to draw up architectural drawings, some of which are included in this book", says author Carmel Spiteri. "The architecture of each of the three country villas is discussed in a dedicated chapter which also considers related issues of patronage, contemporary building techniques as well as the financing of the maintenance of the estates. Building projects of this scale could only be undertaken by the privileged

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classes on the island and depended on sustainable financing. Two of the villa owners came from corsairing backgrounds and were highly respected by society, as corsairing itself was an authorised activity.�

Country Villas in XVIII Century Malta, by Carmel Spiteri, photography by Charles Paul Azzopardi.

Foreword by Prof Mario Buhagiar and introduction

by Prof Conrad Thake. 256 pages, published by Kite Group.

Top: Main facade of Villa Bologna.

Left: View of the English garden created

by Lady Strickland in the early twentieth-century, Villa Bologna.

HISTORICAL SCENTS

IN SEARCH OF SCENTS

Above: Flowers, fruits, butterflies, spiders, grasshoppers, a hermit crab in its shell: this painting by Balthasar van der Ast, is an invitation to the viewer to marvel at God's creation. Still Life with Fruit and Flowers, Balthasar van der Ast, 1620 - 1621, oil on panel, h 39.2cm × w 69.8cm. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Scents can trigger memories and transport us to other times, childhood and days gone by.

Think of nostalgic scents like 4711 and Yardley Lavender. Researchers are now hoping to capture the smells as part of Europe's cultural heritage. ODEUROPA. Negotiating Olfactory and Sensory Experiences in Cultural Heritage Practice and Research is the first European initiative to use artificial intelligence to investigate the importance of scents and smelling, and to discover how scents have moulded communities and traditions.

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mell is an urgent topic that is fast gaining attention in different communities. Amongst the questions the Odeuropa project will focus on are: what are the key scents, fragrant spaces, and olfactory practices that have shaped our cultures? How can we extract sensory data from large-scale digital text and image collections? How can we represent smell in all its facets in a database? How should we safeguard our olfactory heritage? And – why should we?

The project bundles an array of academic expertise from across many disciplines – history, art history, computational linguistics, computer vision, semantic web, museology, heritage science, and chemistry, with further expertise from cultural heritage institutes, intangible heritage organisations, policymakers, and the creative and fragrance industries. The team will develop novel methods in sensory mining and olfactory heritage science to collect information about smell

from multinational digital text and image collections.

The historical scent data will be curated and published in an online Encyclopaedia of Smell Heritage, describing the sensory qualities and meanings of the scents and tracing the storylines of key scents, fragrant places, and olfactory practices. This database will become an archive for the olfactory heritage of Europe, enabling future generations to access and learn about the scented past. In addition, a selection of European smells will be preserved and ‘reconstructed’ using heritage science techniques.

According to Inger Leemans, project lead of ODEUROPA and professor of cultural history at VU University and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Humanities Cluster, “smells shape our experience of the world, yet we have very little sensory information about the past. ODEUROPA will dive into digital heritage collections to discover the key scents of Europe and the stories they carry, then bring them back to our noses today”.

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

OUR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Meeting Roberta Metsola It has been a busy few weeks for Malta’s Roberta Metsola since becoming the European Parliament’s First Vice President this November. "It is a tremendous honour to have been elected First Vice-President", she said after her election, "I will continue to be a strong voice for European citizens and for Malta and continue to work to build bridges across the political divide." Roberta discusses her new responsibilities and what this means for Malta, other EU Member States and the European People's Party Group in the European Parliament. Main photography Rene Rossignaud. he pandemic has moved a large part of the Parliament’s work online and Roberta was in Malta when the result was announced, following proceedings in the European Parliament’s Liaison Office in Valletta. How did she feel waiting for the result?

“I was excited and a bit nervous, I was conscious of the cameras focused on me and I tried to keep calm and collected. It was such an honour to be elected by acclamation – which in practicable terms means that there was the support of every political group in the Parliament for my candidature.

It was a special moment for me and for the entire country. It was the first time that someone from Malta or Gozo had been elected to the position and I am very aware of the importance of the message that my election sends to all young people – but to girls and young women in particular.

I was brought up believing that our geographic borders should not be a limit to our potential. I have always rejected the label of Malta being a small country. We are bigger than we sometimes think. And so my message is: believe in yourself, stand your ground and keep going – and just as so many women who smashed ceilings forged a path for my generation, I will work hard to ensure that the journey is made easier for those who come after.

Being elected the First Vice-President of the European Parliament “was a special moment for me and for the entire country. It was the first time that someone from Malta or Gozo had been elected to the position and I am very aware of the importance of the message that my election sends to all young people – but to girls and young women in particular.”

Photograph Rene Rossignaud.

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Among Roberta's first commitments after being elected the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, she met with the President of Malta, His Excellency George Vella. In this meeting, the European agenda at this sensitive time, as well as the challenges ahead for the European Union, were discussed. Photograph: Office of the President.

“It is a tremendous honour to have been elected First VicePresident”, Roberta said after her election, “I will continue to be a strong voice for European citizens and for Malta and continue to work to build bridges across the political divide.”

Photograph Rene Rossignaud.

Visiting the traditional, family-run Cini bakery in Fontana, Gozo – and explaining that I will keep pushing for increased European support and recognition for local businesses. European lawmakers have to listen to what our SMEs are telling us and understand that one-sizefits all solutions are often unworkable. EU support is important, but we can all do our part by supporting our traditional producers and buying local. Photograph Rene Rossignaud.

38 months since the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia it is a matter of “when” not “if ” – Justice will rise.

Photograph Rene Rossignaud.

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This October Roberta gave a virtual guest lecture to students at New York’s Columbia Law School. The discussion centred on the future of transatlantic relations; why we need a global approach to our post-COVID recovery; and why as students, teachers, activists or politicians we have a responsibility to resist the simplicity offered by extremes and stand up for centrist politics of reason and studied moderation.

Meeting with PN leader Bernard Grech. Photograph Rene Rossignaud.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

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t is not always easy, there are setbacks that you will have to overcome. When I first stood for election in 2004, I had no family links to politics: a young woman from Gzira in an old man’s world, with no money, or backing.

But then as now, I had ideas, an appetite for change and a determination to stand up to be counted. It took almost 10 years but in 2013, I was elected as one of Malta and Gozo’s first female MEPs. My passion and my resolve have not waned.

My belief that politics must be rooted in values has not been watered down. I am as hungry for change as I have ever been, a change that needs to be based on principle – and these are also the basis of the ethos of the European People’s Party Group in the European Parliament that I, as a MEP elected from the Partit Nazzjonalista, form part of.

I have always stood unashamedly for the politics of the centre, for moderation over extremism, for politics based on truth, justice and correctness. My politics is that of the centre ground, of respect for individual liberties and community based policies, of factbased not identity politics.

To me, this blue vs red divide that dominates so much of our time in Malta has always seemed a little artificial. Partisan politics as we understand it is ending, political affiliation has shifted in the last 10-15 years and we need to give people constant reasons why we should have the honour of representing them and that is what I try to do every day.

As a MEP from Malta you have the honour of having the entire country as your constituency, so I meet, listen and speak to everyone.

Moments after being elected I was on the Gozo ferry heading to our sister island to meet people and listen to what they want from the European Parliament and how my new role can help (after stopping for pastizzi on the way).”

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hat does she think are the most important issues for our country going forward? “Our environment and health, the prosperity of our people and the need to future proof the country.

What I mean is that in terms of our urban environment we need to move towards a circular, sustainable economic model, that allows the restoration and construction industries to work together while preserving that which we value the most. We need to keep our seas. our valleys and our air clean and ban single-use plastics once and for all.

We need to understand that trees are more necessary for our well-being than concrete or asphalt.

We need critical thinking to be taught from day one in our schools. We need girls and boys to both equally become able to realise their potential.

We can ensure prosperity by creating a sustainable economy that is designed for the long-term benefit of our population, not the

This November Roberta Metsola presided over the European Parliament's plenary session, in this case during a debate on the protection of journalists.

immediacy of boom and bust cycles. We need to embrace the digital revolution in every sense and we must invest in our people, our companies, our police, our teachers, our doctors, our nurses, to fulfil the promise of this country. We need the ambition of private sector investment to be matched by commitment from the government across the board, and ensure your hands are not tied by red tape or the bribes you think you are expected to pay.

We need ideas to matter not political patronage. We need to make sure that playing by the rules is more profitable than breaking them and where enforcement and equality means a level playing field for all businesses – including for all those SMEs and family businesses.

We must ensure that sustainability is incentivised across the board and look into what fiscal models employed so successfully for foreign companies can be extended to more sectors of our economy that need an incentive to get past Malta’s economies of scale.

We need to value truth, justice and facts. That means fixing our justice system and supporting truly independent institutions.”

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hat’s next? “I’ve only been in this job for a few days! But as Albert Einstein said: “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.”

I am in politics because I want the vision that I have for my country and the European Union to be implemented. I don’t want to sit on the side-lines just because it is easier to remain silent. I want to ensure that the gap between European decision-making and the citizens we represent is bridged and that I able to bring a piece of Europe to Malta but more importantly a piece of Malta to the European Union.

This interview has been produced in collaboration with the EPP group in the European Parliament.

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PHOTO DIGEST HOPES FOR A GREENER FUTURE

A LESSON FROM THE PAST In 1079, William the Conqueror created the New Forest as his ‘new hunting forest’ naming it ‘Nova Foresta’, which evolved into its English name ‘New Forest’. The term "forest" referred not to trees but an area subject to Forest Law, reserving the pursuit of beasts within it exclusively for the king and his officers. In autumn and winter the forest transforms into a mythical landscape that has a magical Christmas feel to it. Photography Annie Spratt.

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ocated in Hampshire on the south coast of England, an area of 219 square miles (566 square kilometres) is now designated a National Park known for its ecological bio-diversity and preservation of indigenous wildlife. The forest is home to New Forest Ponies, donkeys, cattle, pigs, five different types of deer, rabbits, badgers, foxes, moles and other animals including frogs, toads, lizards, newts and other reptiles and amphibians. There is also an abundance of birdlife, being the breeding ground for 100 species of bird, from birds of prey to groundnesting and other rare birds.

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Left: A cow walking through the New Forest.

Facing page: Autumn forest road.

PHOTO DIGEST

“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done – then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.”

Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden 25

PHOTO DIGEST

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PHOTO DIGEST

Top left: The landscape of the New Forest becomes mythical in autumn and winter.

Top right: A wild horse on a cold morning in the New Forest. Far left: Winter countryside in the New Forest. Left: Autumnal fog lays across the New Forest.

ABOUT THE PONIES AND COMMONERS: There are currently around 5,000 Ponies in the New Forest, which roam free across the whole forest and can often be found grazing in small groups in open moorland. The New Forest Ponies are all owned by New Forest Commoners who have the right to graze their ponies, cattle and donkeys on the open forest year round. New Forest Commoners occupy properties or land in the New Forest that have Common Rights. The 6 Commoners Rights include pasture (right to graze), mast (let out pigs to eat acorns), marl (right to dig clay), turbary (right to dig peat peat), sheep (right to graze) and estovers (right to fuelwood). Many commoners are descendants of families who have been practicing these rights for centuries.

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SUSTAINABILITY

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES “It takes a thought to make a word, it takes some words to make an action, it takes some work to make it work.” This is a phrase from a song, which I believe represents how the energy sector, industry and sustainable development can and should relate to each other, writes Dr Miriam Dalli, Malta's Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development.

Photography Bernard Polidano.

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he aim of a new Ministry responsible for all three remits is to bring together the zeal and ambition of Maltese entrepreneurs, the need for a more sustainable future, and the strategic willpower of policymakers.

This is a new era in which energy, industry, and sustainable development are tackled in tandem because the change that we need to see must happen as soon as possible and it can only happen if all remits are tackled as one, cohesive plan. We used to talk of change being necessary for our children to be able to enjoy a decent future. This is no longer the case: change is necessary right now, in our lifetime.

We are no longer talking of development, but of development that is sustainable. The Maltese islands have experienced unprecedented economic growth in recent years, and this is a strong indication that investors have confidence in the way policies are being made. It is also a vote of confidence expressed by the Government in the creativity, determination, and integrity of Maltese and Gozitan businesses and entrepreneurs, thus incentivising them to achieve their aspirations.

All this is positive, but it is time for the next level: to make these aspirations future-proof, by introducing and implementing the concept of development that not only brings profit, but profit that is sustainable and that leads to an improved state of the environment. It is time to realize that the energy needed to fuel industry need not cause maximum damage to the natural environment, but that there are alternatives that are and must be invested in.

Malta is already on the right path in this regard, starting from the change to LNG from the use of heavy fuel oils. Yet the way to go is long when it comes to renewable energy.

Not only do we need to incentivise research, development, and innovation in order to make current technologies more

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affordable, but we need to push projects towards commercialisation and ensure that we maximise the energy generated to its full efficiency and potential.

All this involves a substantial amount of investment. The question naturally arises whether this is an ideal time to discuss such an investment, in times of a global pandemic that is wreaking havoc in many trades and sectors. As policymakers, the easiest thing to do would be to only focus on an immediate recovery. Yet we can’t do just that.

One of the fundamental principles I believe in is that in every situation, we need to seek opportunities. This is a delicate time in which we must strike the right balance between hope for the future and the present realities.

Creating opportunities for growth at this very moment is indeed possible, but we need to act now.

We need to tap into solutions for the better use of land and physical space, for example. We need to tap into solutions for the better use of energy, the need for a more efficient building design, the need for alternative means of transport, the need for more intelligent methods of waste management, the protection of marine life, the need for agricultural methods that make local produce profitable and sought after, the need for improved air quality, the need to invest in research equipment... the possibilities are vast.

This pandemic has taught us that we can’t always rely on traditional sectors for our income. We are currently going through a phase that many of us would have never thought that they would experience in their lifetime. Yet there lies great reassurance in the fact that those at the helm of the country are focusing on opportunities that are here at this very moment.

We must be the ones to exploit them, making sustainable development goals our own personal goals, and ensuring that we truly believe in the targets that we set, not only because they must be implemented, but because we want them to be implemented for the sake of our own quality of life.

SUSTAINABILITY

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HEALTHCARE

“In our sector, I see a very fine line between care and finances.

If you don’t find the right balance, you risk ruining everything.”

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Natalie Briffa Farrugia, CEO of the CareMalta Group.

HEALTHCARE

TO US, CARE MEANS EVERYTHING As a particularly demanding 2020 comes to a close, Natalie Briffa Farrugia, CEO of the CareMalta Group, discusses key assets and achievements throughout the pandemic and is now looking forward to the silver lining the New Year will hopefully bring with it: a semblance of normality and a return to her company’s model of care.

Photography Matthew Cutajar.

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ay back in March, when the pandemic first hit our shores, as a company we feared the yet unknown coronavirus and followed closely what was happening around the world. This brought anxiety to our residents and their families, as well as to our employees, who all worked closely together.

Looking back at our 10-week lockdown with the residents, which we thought was the most challenging aspect of this unprecedented journey, I now realise that it was the most beautiful time because there was so much going on inside all our homes.

This experience will go down in Malta’s history for our standards of humanity and care.

Our care was automatically converted into a 24-hour service by our managers and employees, who became our residents’ second family. Through our active ageing programme, Skype calls with relatives, celebrations and other social activities, we gave our elderly what they truly deserved.

As a result, a magnificent connection was created.

Over the past year, CareMalta has reached a peak in care, an achievement like no other throughout its 27-year history in the sector. Seeing our people step up to the many challenges we faced – like soldiers going to war – was very meaningful to us.

I’m proud of the critical decisions we took throughout this pandemic. These were spot on in all circumstances. I’m also very grateful for the support of our shareholders and mother company, the Vassallo Group, as well as the integrity of our teams and their sense of calling and vocation during such hard times.

On the other hand, we have had to face the sad reality of losing a number of residents during this second wave of the pandemic. Even though we did everything

we could in order not to lose one life, all our energies, sacrifices and goodwill were overcome by the lack of restrictive measures the country experienced during the summer months and days that followed.

But we sailed through the storm very well and managed to contain the spread immediately, thanks to the professionalism, experience and expertise of the right people being in the right places at the right time.

Once again, our teams dropped everything, irrespective of their vulnerability and family needs, and did not think twice about stepping in to help care for our residents.

This is the true meaning of vocation.

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o us, care means everything. As leading operators in the sector, I see a very fine line between care and finances.

If you don’t find the right balance, you risk ruining everything. Unfortunately, this is what happened on a national scale, with the most vulnerable suffering the brunt of a number of bad decisions which could have been rectified at an earlier stage. I’m sure that, had the deaths occurred within the younger generation, the country would have been in a state of alarm!

While expressing my gratitude to the Social Care Standards Authority for all its support over the past year, I believe that, as a country, there’s a need for more social responsibility. Swab test results, particularly the ones for employees who are in quarantine or self-isolation, should be given priority.

I also feel very strongly about penalties, especially at a time when the care sector needs more people working within it. I understand that, as care home operators, it is fair to face consequences when regulation is not abided by. However, discretion needs to be applied at the moment as the sector is fighting to survive.

It is also sad to see society expressing

negativity towards the sector, particularly since all the frontliners working in care are under so much pressure. Let us respect one another, show gratitude and appreciation and use this time to bring out the humanity and virtues in each and every one of us.

On a positive note, I hope lessons will be learnt from this pandemic. The sector needs to review its social structures while looking at new possibilities to help support families wishing to take care of their elderly. I fear that, as a society, we are just focusing on long-term care settings – which, ultimately, is not the vision for the sector.

While our values and virtues have been tried and tested by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, I am eager to see the true meaning of care shine in the coming years. If this fails on a nationwide scale, I’m sure that, within the CareMalta Group, we will all continue to embrace each other, more than ever before.

Like the families, we too, as operators are suffering, since we cannot hug our residents or give them what they really need – the model of care we have always had, along with a sense of spirituality and togetherness which we all long for!

The team at Casa San Paolo during the March lockdown with residents.

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familja.gov.mt

BUDGET 2021 MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY, THE FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

IN-WORK BENEFIT: INCREASE THRESHOLDS FOR ELIGIBILITY

COUPLES (BOTH WORKING): €35,000 SINGLE PARENTS:€23,000 COUPLES (1 PARENT IN WORK): €26,000

93,000 PENSIONERS TO BENEFIT FROM AN INCREASE OF €5 WEEKLY IN THEIR PENSION.

A TOTAL INCREASE OF € 260 YEARLY

INCREASE IN CHILDREN’S ALLOWANCE: UP TO €70 FOR EVERY CHILD

GRANT FOR LOCAL ADOPTIONS: UP TO €1000

INCREASE IN FOSTER CARE ALLOWANCE: UP TO €520 FOR EVERY CHILD

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HEALTH & FITNESS

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n interesting study published in January 2018 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), compared the effects of a low-fat diet with those of a low-carb diet on weight-loss. This was a highly powered study, running for 12 months with over 300 participants in each group.

All participants received regular counseling sessions from a dietician to help them stay on track with their diet plan.

At the end of the 12 months, the weight-loss achieved in both groups was similar, showing no significant statistical difference. Therefore, whether you ate high-carb and low-fat or whether you ate low-carb and high-fat did not make any significant difference to the rate of weight-loss.

One difference that was observed was that those on a low-fat diet reduced their LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) more than those on the low-carb diet, whereas those on the low-carb diet increased their HDL-cholesterol (good, heart-protective cholesterol) and lowered their triglycerides (fat in the blood) more than those in the low-fat diet.

Once again it was shown that weight-loss is dependent primarily on calorie intake, and not so much on nutrient ratios (proportion of carbs, fats and proteins).

Many strategies work for weight loss. The goal is to find the appropriate one for you, the one that makes it most convenient and the least discomforting to stick to. Weight-loss takes time, therefore it is essential to find a strategy that can be maintained over several months without too much sacrifice, limitation and complexity.

THOUGHTS ON CHRISTMAS

Low-carb, low-fat?

What’s better for weight-loss?

CHRISTMAS INDULGENCES As a society, we are constantly bombarded with information from friends and media, that claim things like: eating carbs after 6pm is bad for you, carbs make you fat, skipping breakfast lowers your metabolism, and I choose this brand of bread because it’s low-fat. Well, the truth is that carbs as such don’t make you fat, our body doesn’t have a timer that starts turning carbs into fat after 6pm, there is evidence that you can lose weight by skipping breakfast or even eating only once a day, and most kinds of bread are low-fat (even Maltese bread), because their main ingredient is flour, which has only 1 g of fat per 100g, writes Richard Geres, Fitness Consultant & Registered Nutritionist. So how can you keep in control this Christmas?

The festive season is about to begin, and during this period many people experience the most weight gain throughout the year. The weight gain is largely a result of overindulgence on alcohol, foods, dinners, snacks and sweets. In order to limit this weight-gain, self-control and moderation are key. This is obviously easier said than done; temptation, greed, and peer pressure are our downfall.

Some tricks to help control calorie intake include eating slowly and eating without distractions. One of the main benefits of eating slowly is that it allows your body to recognise when you’re getting full. It takes about 20 minutes from the start of a meal for the brain to send out signals of satiety, in the form of satiety hormones.

Unfortunately most people down their meal within a few minutes.

Distractions make it difficult to focus on eating.

Such distractions come from watching TV, answering emails or texting while eating, or eating on the go while upset or under stress.

Boredom, emotions and stress can lead to mindless snacking. Excessive snacking is a far greater reason for weight-gain than the food consumed at the main meals. If you get the cravings to snack, reflect on your real hunger, and make a cup to tea or coffee first. This may help to curb your cravings.

Large Christmas and holiday meals usually have a huge selection of food available, and ‘greed’ and the wish to taste everything can take control of your eating behaviour. Before filling your plate, look at the food options, make a conscious choice of what foods you will eat, and then fill your plate accordingly. If you want to taste a selection of foods, keep the portions very small. Focus on taste and eat slowly!

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SUPERSTAR

ARGENTINE SOCCER SUPERSTAR DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA

THE HAND OF GOD

Above: On June 22, 1986, Argentina's Diego Maradona (left), beat England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton to a high ball and scored his first of two goals at the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against England in Mexico City - the goal would become known as the “Hand of God” goal. (Photograph El Grafico via AP). Below: Maradona (second left), scores his second goal – the “Goal of the Century”, during the same game winning the game 2-1 for the Argentines. England's Terry Butcher (left), tries to tackle Maradona, while England's goalkeeper Peter Shilton is on the ground (Photograph AP File Photo).

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rgentina versus England was a football match played on 22 June 1986 in the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City.

The game was held four years after the Falklands War and was a key part in the intense Argentina England football rivalry.

The match would go on to include two of the most famous goals in football history, both scored by Argentina captain Diego Maradona. The first goal, 51 minutes into the match, would become the legendary “Hand of God” goal, which Maradona scored by using his left fist. Four minutes later, Maradona would dribble past five England players to score the “Goal of the Century”. Argentina won the game 2–1 and Maradona led his country to 1986 World Cup title with a victory over West Germany in the final match. The Argentine soccer great, who was among the best players ever, died this December. He was 60.

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Registrations are open.

22586829 www.fes.gov.mt fes@gov.mt foundationforeducationalservices

EDUCATION “The social and economic future of our country depends on our most precious asset – human resources. No one should be left behind. We must work together as one.”

Justyne Caruana, Malta’s Minister for Education.

PASSPORTS FOR THE FUTURE Everyone agrees that the biggest wealth of our nation is the resilience of its people. Human capital is at the very core of all our targets as a government. We bank on people's talents and abilities to enhance our policies and implement the necessary measures for the country's well being always with a clear view of the future.

Our education system is operated by a dedicated team of educators and workers who are an integral part of our nation's human wealth. They are the most precious conveyors of our whole education system. Their contribution towards society is unmeasurable because they touch all stratas of our society. Our future depends on their continued commitment and innovative spirit. They are our children's passports for the future writes Malta's Minister for Education, Justyne Caruana. Main portrait photograph Terry Camilleri.

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EDUCATION

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CCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE. I strongly believe that everyone should have access to education irrespective of their abilities.

Education is pivotal in all stages of a child's development and essential throughout all points of life. Life-long learning is in fact the comprehensive idea that defines the whole concept. Inclusivity means that all students, regardless of any challenges they may have, mingle with the general education classes and receive high-quality instruction, interventions, and support enabling them to successfully follow the core curricula.

Schools and classrooms should operate on the premise that students with disabilities are as fundamentally competent as students without disabilities. This means that for families with persons who have disabilities or other limitations, the education system should never be perceived as some form of therapy. It is intrinsically a way of recognising hidden or alternative abilities and aims at their enhancement and empowerment within the community.

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HE COVID-19 CHALLENGE. The World Health Organisation has stated that effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Education have created the largest disruption of education systems in history. The social and economic implications will have lasting effects on society at large. We must realise that disruption in education could lead to generational catastrophe.

The closure of schools hinders the provision of essential services to children and communities.

This includes socialisation, access to nutritious food and healthy lifestyles, the ability of parents to work and coordinate better with educators within an established structure that has been considered as a standard rule for ages. On the other hand, it may lead to a higher risk of mental stress for parents and create a danger for violence within the family.

The situation is such that it also affects the quality of life of our grandparents, who in our closelyknitted society across Malta and Gozo, are - thank God - still an integral part of our family structure.

They are often, the ones that take care of the grandchildren whilst their parents can progress in their employment. This exchange of roles can be beneficial to the elderly in acquiring a renewed and parhaps revamped activity, and to our children who can have better access to basic social values that can fall by the wayside in a technologydominated reality.

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HE COMMON GOOD. The changes we had to face during the pandemic have brought us face-to-face with the stark reality that, when education systems collapse, peace, prosperous and productive societies cannot be sustained. We can never part with the known and proven concept that education is a global common good and a primary

driver of progress across all UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a bedrock of just, equal, inclusive and peaceful societies.

This government is doing its utmost to mitigate the effects of this pandemic. We must realise that Malta is one of only a few countries across the world, that have reopened their schools.Mitigating the effects of the pandemic are top on this government’s agenda. Our primary focus is to mitigate the spread of this disease. This is the most important measure if we are to beat the pandemic.

We can rest assured that safety of our students, educators and workers is paramount and that our schools are safe from contagion. In fact, we allocated €26 million on safety measures for the reopening of our schools.This year’s budget for 2021 also reflects our commitment to the best effective practices in education. The allotted budget is in fact €65 million, excluding EU Funds - the highest since 2013.

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DAPTATION WITH RESPONSIBILITY. Strengthening the resilience of our education system has helped us reopen our schools.

We are focusing on the WHO recommendations: equality and inclusion, reinforcing capacities for risk management, strong leadership and consultation and communication with all stakeholders including parents and unions. It is only this way that we can build a resilient, equitable and sustainable education system - despite the Covid-19 challenges.

I intend to immediately address learning losses and prevent dropouts, particularly of marginalized groups. I want to ensure that we must keep on offering skills for employability programmes. We are committed to support the teaching profession and teachers’ readiness. I mean to expand the definition of the right to education to include accessibility. We continue to remove barriers to connectivity and strengthen data and monitoring of learning whilst strengthening the articulation and flexibility across levels and types of education and training.

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UR FUTURE GOALS. Indeed, the changes we have been working on now, focus on creating a safe environment in which our students can continue to have access to education.

Innovative approaches to support the continuity of education and training are continually being upgraded and adjusted.

This is important because the social and economic future of our country depends on our most precious asset – human resources. No one should be left behind. We must work together as one. Educators, parents, students and representatives must join forces so that together we can ride the waves and come out of this pandemic prepared for future goals.

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Hon. Owen Bonnici

MINISTRY FOR RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND THE COORDINATION OF POST-COVID-19 STRATEGY

The Future of Research and Innovation in Malta Why are research and innovation important?

Research and innovation help tackle our biggest societal challenges.

They are considered key to securing sustainable and competitive economies and societies, that provide quality employment opportunities and higher living standards. Research is a vital element through which innovation can be achieved, though we must not forget that innovation can also take place without it. All forms of innovation deserve support.

As an EU Member State, Malta is also part of the EU’s efforts to improve Europe’s research and innovation strengths and tap into its full innovation capabilities.

How will the Maltese Government support Research and Innovation?

The establishment of a dedicated Ministry for Research and Innovation is a clear indication that research and innovation have been placed high on the national agenda. Their importance in the deliverance of a stronger, more knowledge-based economy, has continually been recognised. However, we are now driving forward with a more vivacious implementation of strategic decisions and support measures.

MCST is the government’s advisory entity on R&I policy to ensure that appropriate strategies are in place to this end. MCST works with other entities to ensure synergies and coordination, in the support given to researchers. Various funding and support schemes are available and the Ministry for Research and Innovation will continue striving through funding and other initiatives to garner more support for our research community.

How would you describe MCST’s role in the local Research and Innovation ecosystem, in particular when it comes to research funding support?

MCST has a long track record of supporting the Government on R&I Policy and Space. Its remit has however grown tremendously over recent years.

Whilst research funding support through MCST started as far back as the early 2000’s, in recent years it has developed a wider and more robust set of programmes to better support the local community.

Within 2020, MCST has not only sustained the further development of its legacy funding programmes but has also produced new opportunities to feed into the Research and Innovation ecosystem. We have witnessed the implementation of the €5.3M COVID-19 R&D Fund, pioneered jointly with Malta Enterprise and we have continued supporting the National Space Fund. We also implemented new support measures to better support researchers in accessing opportunities under the EU Framework Programme. Moreover, and notably, we have focused on internationalisation whereby MCST has successfully developed bilateral and multilateral measures with international partners, to propel local research beyond our shores.

2021, shall open new avenues for MCST through a deeper increased focus on the preparation for participation in the Horizon Europe Partnerships.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEDICATED MINISTRY FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION HAVE BEEN PLACED HIGH ON THE NATIONAL AGENDA

Dr. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando MCST, Executive Chairman

Further support through increased central goverment funds has been obtained for FUSION, the National R&I Programme.

What are MCST’s plans for FUSION in 2021?

FUSION, the National R&I Programme, is MCST’s flagship funding programme. To date, it has consisted of the Commercialisation Voucher Programme and the Technology Development Programme. The budget for 2021 has provided for a significant 60% increase in funding for the scheme, creating a €3.5M fund. This additional funding will enable MCST to consolidate the Research Excellence Programme – introduced in 2020 and aimed at bottom-up, early stage research. MCST will also be looking to develop the Technology Development Programme further, to cater for larger projects and introduce fast-track routes. This is all part of our ambition to create a complete portfolio of FUSION funding programmes, to better support research endevours across a broader spectrum of technological maturity. FUSION will also encompass new special schemes, such as the Infectious Diseases Fund of €500,000 for 2021. The creation of a Ministry dedicated to R and I is a significant evolution, and will surely result in further support for our endeavours at supporting the local research community.

What is the role of Esplora in relation to Research and Innovation?

As MCST’s Science Communication hub, Esplora Interactive Science Centre has a dual role. Raising awareness of local research and innovation, and providing learning opportunities in relation to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The trick is to ‘catch them young’ by showing our younger generation that subjects like coding can be fun, and giving them a taster of what STEM jobs are available and what they entail. The National STEM Engagement Working Group, which the Malta Council for Science and Technology set up with the support

of the Ministry for Education and Employment, brings together major local stakeholders such as the University of Malta and the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology. The working group works at a National level to create awareness and address the shortage of STEM related skills, using the powerful learning tool that is Esplora.

Esplora serves as a catalyst in the organisation of an annual STEM Career Expo for young students. In 2021 it will be organising the very first National STEM Awards, giving recognition for STEM appreciation. We are also working towards a future that sees women at the forefront in the field of STEM. Through the new Ministry for Research and Innovation, MCST aims at strengthening this pillar, under the excellent leadership of the Hon. Owen Bonnici.

What is the perception of the public about science and technology?

An independent survey carried out by MISCO International confirmed a 14% improvement in the perception and attitudes towards Science and Technology amongst the public in 2019, when compared to 2015.

Other statistics also show an increase of over 10% in STEM subject uptake at year 8 for 2019, when compared to 2017.

The perception of scientists as senior Caucasian men in lab coats is cliched and incorrect. Improved communication between scientists and the public at all the different levels of the research process is key to continue changing the perception of the public on Science and Technology. If Science is only featured in the media through sensationalistic criticism or in relation to new, groundbreaking discoveries - the public will continue to perceive it as a sector to either love or hate.

In reality it is relevant to each activity in our everyday lives.

SINCE ESPLORA’S OPENING IN 2016, A 14% IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDES OF THE PUBLIC TOWARDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, WAS RECORDED

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DÉCORS BARBARES THE ENCHANTING INTERIORS OF NATHALIE FARMAN-FARMA

“With hindsight I can see that I was always sensitive to the power of atmospheric rooms. However, it was only later in life, after I started a family, that I became involved in the art of interiors, and specifically textiles,” writes the French-American textile designer Nathalie FarmanFarma, in the introduction to her new book. “My taste, initially, was very disciplined and French, but once I met my husband, Amir, who is from Iran, I began experimenting with more freedom. When I decorated our first home the guiding vision was to create a mood that incorporated East and West. I was particularly inspired by the mix of patterns and colours in Persian miniatures and the tribal robes of central Asia. The more I looked East, the more I lost the fear of things not going together. I wanted to change the rules. Unable to find the fabrics I wanted I decided to start my own line, Décors Barbares, which makes bold prints that have the feel of vintage textiles.” Photography Miguel Flores-Vianna, courtesy of Vendome Press.

Facing page: In this sitting area a sofa is topped with a Persian kilim and pillows in Swedish, Romanian, and Persian textiles from Farman-Farma’s collection.

The chair is from the late designer Madeleine Castaing’s shop in Paris. The window curtains are trimmed with antique Russian Vologda lace, and the draperies around the doorway are of an Italian brocade by Antico Setificio Fiorentino. Top: In the studio desk area, the 19th-century desk is Danish, and the stool is Napoleon III. Above: In this bedroom the headboard is upholstered in a floral by Décors Barbares, and the bed is dressed in linens by D. Porthault. The Edwardian side tables are topped with antique Argand oil lamps, and the walls are sheathed in a fabric from the Madeleine Castaing collection for Brunschwig & Fils from Kravet. The 18th and 19th-century artworks depict Russian icons.

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refreshing antitode to the static nature of much contemporary interior design, the textiles and decoration of designer Nathalie FarmanFarma have gained a devoted following among celebrity and socialite clients for their folkloric charm and romantic exuberance.

Drawing on the enchantment of fairytales and the decorative history of Persia, Central Asia, and Russia, Farman-Farma employs traditional print-making techniques to create exquisitely detailed fabrics, which she uses to conjure interiors infused with warmth and natural charisma.

Top facing page: In the living room overlooking the garden at her home in Connecticut, a Thonet chaise longue in Décors Barbares’s cotton percale Les Groseilles. Bottom facing page: In this dining room at Nathalie’s family home in Connecticut, a collection of Uzbek-style plates hang on ‘80s-era wallpaper. Top left: For this bedroom, an Arts and Crafts English chair has been upholstered in Decors Barbares’ ‘Bilibine’ fabric. An Ivan Shishkin ink drawing hangs above. Left: In this living room at Nathalie’s London home, the sofa is upholstered in a ‘Decors Barbares’ linen called “Nakoika”, with vintage Russian fabrics used for the pillows.

The ottoman is upholstered in ‘Decors Barbares’ cotton paisley “Andrinople”. The bookcase is filled with books about Iran, where Nathalie’s husband is from, and family photographs. An Iranian textile covers the table.

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arman-Farma’s patternfilled townhouse and studio in London and her family homes in Connecticut and Lake Tahoe feature in this captivating volume, forming the backdrop for her Décors Barbares range of fabrics, as well as her vast collection of antique textiles, costumes and jewellery.

Vogue has called Farman-Farma the “textile designer you need to know.” Her clients include Lauren Santo Domingo, Tory Burch and influential interior designer David Netto, who writes the foreword to this book.

Left: Nathalie Farman-Farma’s London home and studio. In the work area fabrics from Russia, Eastern Europe, and Iran line work shelves. Bottom left: In Nathalie’s petit salon in Connecticut overlooking the garden and porch, the fabric on the walls is

by Madeleine Castaing. Bottom right: In one of the guest bedrooms in Connecticut the walls and upholstery are Décors Barbares’s cotton percale Zénaide, creating a striking effect.

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Christmas Tree by Floreal.

Surfacing the most beautiful spaces

CEMENT PATTERNED TILES

www.halmannvella.com

HALMANN VELLA LTD, The Factory, Mosta Road, Lija. LJA 9016. Malta T: (+356) 21 433 636 E: info@halmannvella.com

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BOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS. Nathalie Farman-Farma was raised in Paris, France, and Greenwich, Connecticut. She studied classics at Brown and Columbia before working as associate editor for the New Yorker. She founded her studio, Décors Barbares, in 2010 in London, where she lives with her husband, Amir, and their two children.

Miguel Flores-Vianna has been a photographer, writer and editor for more than 20 years. His books include A Wandering Eye (Vendome) and Haute Bohemians (Vendome), named design book of the year by T magazine. His photography is regularly published in AD and Cabana. He lives in London.

David Netto is an influential interior designer who writes for T magazine, AD, and the Wall Street Journal.

Décors Barbares: The Enchanting Interiors of Nathalie Farman-Farma. By Nathalie Farman-Farma, photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna. Published by Vendome Press. Hardcover with jacket, 240 pages, over 225 colour illustrations, 26.5 x 31.5 cm, GBP £50.

Top right: The wall above the fireplace in this living area, features embroidery by Namay Samay, and the artwork above the mantel is by Léon Bakst. Bottom right: Framed Russian embroideries hang on a dining room wall covered in a Braquenié floral.

Facing page: For her son Alexander’s bedroom, Nathalie paired this brass bed, sourced from the old Aldon Hotel in Berlin, with a Madeleine Castaing-designed carpet and curtains in ‘Cassenoisette’.

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SWEET TREATS

SWEET DREAMS

It is the season for sweet treats! It’s hard to think of Christmas without thinking about festive treats too! Seeing supermarket shelves stacked with boxes of panettone, sharing a box of Christmas chocolates, having coffee with a mince pie and the lovely aroma of spiced biscuits baking in the oven, wafting through the home are just some of the many aspects when seasonal delights come into play say the team of chefs at The Mediterranean Culinary Academy. Photography by Robert Pace.

BITTER ORANGE MARMALADE AND ALMOND TART A different take on the classic Bakewell tart. While keeping the structure and main components of this dessert, alcohol has been added for a festive feel while the jam has been swapped for a local in-season marmalade.

Look for a traditionally made marmalade that has been made with bitter orange known as ‘Tal-Bakkaljaw’, making good use of oranges that are not otherwise consumed.

SERVES 4 150g local bitter orange marmalade 25ml Grand Marnier FOR SHORTCRUST 150g all-purpose flour, sifted 50g almond flour 35g sugar 3g salt 25ml Amaretto 20-25ml ice water 120g cold butter, cubed FOR FRANGIPANE 100g ground almonds 10g all-purpose flour 100g unsalted butter, melted 75g sugar 2 eggs, whole 5g salt

1. For the shortcrust, add cold butter to flour, sugar and salt. Combine with your fingers to obtain a coarse, sandy texture. Add Amaretto and ice water in small additions, combining between each addition, until dough starts to come together. Gently knead until it comes together. Shape into a disk and wrap with cling film. Chill to allow pastry to relax and butter to chill.

2. For the frangipane, whisk dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Incorporate melted butter, whisk to a smooth paste. Add an egg, whisk to smooth paste. Repeat.

3. In a separate bowl, combine Grand Marnier and marmalade.

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4. Roll out pastry to about 1/2cm in thickness.

The pastry should extend past pie pan diameter by about 5cm. Lay pastry over pan and gently push down to fill in corners and line evenly.

Add marmalade mixture, spread evenly. Top with frangipane mixture, level with a lightly damp spatula. Trim excess pastry from sides.

5. Bake in a preheated oven at 185C for 45 minutes.

6. Allow to cool in dish, around 10 minutes, then remove and transfer to a cooling rack.

7. Once cool, dust with icing sugar and serve.

SWEET TREATS

SPICED CAROB BAKLAVA Characteristic of the Middle East, this rich sweet dish is often enjoyed during religious celebrations, such as is Christmas. Crisp flaky pastry, layered with a variety of chopped nuts, all held together with a flavoured honey syrup is pure indulgence at its best.

SERVES 4 FOR BASE 18 sheets filo pastry 75g butter, melted 50g pistachio, crushed 75g walnuts, crushed 75g almonds, crushed 1 tbsp cinnamon 1 tbsp carob syrup 1 orange, zest FOR SYRUP 100g sugar 30g honey 30g carob syrup 100ml water 2ml orange blossom water 1 cinnamon stick 2 cardamon pods

1. For the syrup, in a saucepan over low heat combine sugar, water, carob syrup, cinnamon and cardamom pods. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer until syrup covers the back of a spoon, about for 10 minutes. Stir in honey and orange blossom water, and allow to cool completely.

2. For the nut filling, combine walnuts, almonds, pistachios, orange zest, cinnamon and carob syrup.

3. Grease a pie dish lightly with melted butter.

4. Cut filo pastry to dish size. Divide filo sheets into three and place a damp tea towel over pastry until ready to use. Take one set of filo sheets, brush each sheet with melted butter, layer over dish base. Spread one third of nut mixture evenly over the pastry. Repeat until all filo and nut mixture has been used.

5. Butter top layer well and refrigerate until butter has hardened, about 10 minutes.

6. Cut baklava into diamonds. Bake at 180C until top layer has browned nicely, about 30 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cook for 5 minutes and drizzle syrup to coat.

7. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve.

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CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY TART

SWEET TREATS

Simple desserts are difficult to find during the holiday season, despite as they say, that sometimes less is more. Occasionally we need a break from winter spices and all the alcohol. Strawberries make a reappearance this month, so why not show them off in a decadent strawberry and chocolate tart? Kids will love this one too!

SERVES 6 FOR SHORTCRUST 180g all-purpose flour, sifted 14g sugar 3g salt 40-45ml ice water 140g cold butter, cubed for chocolate ganache 150g semi-sweet chocolate 150g cream FOR STRAWBERRY JAM 1kg strawberries, rinsed, cut larger strawberries in half 750g sugar 1 lemon, peeled, deseeded, chopped 1 orange, peeled, deseeded, chopped FOR TOPPING 400g strawberry slices

1. For the shortcrust, add cold butter to flour, sugar and salt. Combine with your fingers to obtain a coarse, sandy texture. Add ice water in small additions, combining between each addition, until dough starts to come together.

Gently knead until it comes together. Shape into a disk and wrap with cling film. Chill to allow pastry to relax and butter to chill.

2. For the strawberry jam, add strawberries, citrus and sugar to a large saucepan (leaving a gap of at least 3 inches between the mixture and rim) over medium heat, stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Increase heat to high. Stirring regularly, cook until it reaches 105C on a thermometer, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

3. For the ganache, heat cream in a pot over medium-high heat. Once at a boil, remove from the heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 200C. Roll out pastry to about 1/2cm in thickness. The pastry should extend past pie pan diameter

by about 5cm. Lay pastry over pan and gently push down to fill in corners and line evenly. Pierce base with a fork.

5. Crumple a sheet of baking paper large enough to cover pie pan well. Uncrumple and line base. Place baking beads into baking paper to cover base completely, press down lightly to fill any edges. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove baking beans and baking paper. Bake an additional 10 minutes until lightly coloured.

6. Allow pastry to cool slightly. Cut any excess pastry from outside of pan and remove pastry crust from pan.

7. Heat 50g strawberry jam to a gentle simmer, until loose.

Sieve to create a strawberry glaze. Add fruit that did not pass through sieve back to remaining jam.

8. Spread jam evenly over tart base. Pour over room temperature ganache to cover, flatten surface with a rubber spatula. Allow to cook ganache is lightly set.

9. Arrange sliced strawberries over ganache and brush over with strawberry glaze. Refrigerate to firm up ganache, but bring out to temper for at least half an hour before serving.

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SWEET TREATS WHITE CHOCOLATE AND PRALINE MOUSSE SERVED WITH WHISKEY SNAPS Christmas is normally a very social time of year, and this year especially, we might opt to host small gatherings at home rather than go out. Which entails a lot more work! With this simple recipe, which may be scaled up accordingly, you can recreate an elegant, restaurant-worthy dessert in the comfort of your own home.

SERVES 2 FOR WHITE CHOCOLATE AND PRALINE MOUSSE 200g cream 100g praline paste (or smooth hazelnut butter) 100g white chocolate mint as needed hazelnuts as needed

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FOR WHISKEY SNAPS 50g butter 50g sugar 50g golden syrup 50g flour ½ lemon, zest 1 lemon, juice 1tsp whiskey chopped nuts as needed

1. For the mousse, bring half cream up to boil in a saucepan. In a bowl, pour over praline paste and white chocolate, mix well and allow to cool to room temperature.

2. Whisk other half of cream in a bowl until stiff peaks are formed. Slowly incorporate the praline mixture into the cream, folding it in with a rubber spatula. Transfer to a piping bag and use as needed, either piping into glasses or bowls.

3. For the whiskey snaps, pre-heat oven to 180°C. 4. Add butter, sugar and golden syrup to a pot and bring to boil whisking constantly. Allow to

boil until butter and syrup is well incorporated.

5. In a mixing bowl, add flour and create a well in the centre. Add whisky, lemon zest and lemon juice. Pour in butter syrup and whisk until fully combined. Allow mixture to cool in the fridge just till the paste combines a little, about 10 minutes.

6. On a lined baking sheet, place a few small dollops of paste, leaving some distance between them. Add nuts and salt to paste top before baking if you wish. Bake for 10 minutes.

7. Once cooked remove from oven and shape. Garnish as you desire.

All recipes have been developed by different chef instructors for The Mediterranean Culinary Academy. If you are interested in more recipes like these or are interested in hands-on cooking classes visit www.mcamalta.com (IG: mca_malta)

ANTIQUITIES

UP FOR GRABS

THE REAL DEAL Until the 18th Century English collections of antiquities had consisted mainly of small, easily portable objects such as coins, intaglios, and bronzes. Only a few very wealthy and powerful patrons were able to acquire ancient sculpture. This was to change dramatically by the second half of the 1700s. As the craze for classical art and sculpture swept across Europe, Rome established itself as the centre to which the well-to-do flocked in pursuit of culture and souvenirs. Today the trend of busts and sculpture in interior design uses resin to recreate these looks, but the real thing still comes up in auction, with wide price ranges. Christie’s Classic Week Antiquities sale on 16 December in London is one such auction and will be led by a rare Roman marble terminal figure of Dionysus, a rare example of the highest artistic quality with prestigious provenance, dating back to the 18th century. The auction includes a selection of Roman marbles, Egyptian limestone figures, and ancient jewellery.

Photography courtesy Christie's.

I

n the second half of the 18th Century, the flourishing market for classical art and sculpture in Rome was largely controlled by a number of resident Britons who acted as agents between Italian families and Cardinals who wished to sell to the predominantly English clientele.

The most enterprising and successful explorer of the day was the Scottish painter Gavin Hamilton (1730-97).

In 1771, the statesman William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, visited Italy and conceived the idea of adorning his own London residence in Berkeley Square with a collection of sculpture. In so doing, Lord Shelburne (1737– 1805) was to become one of the great 18th century collectors of ancient sculpture. He was one of the many new collectors of this period inspired by the Grand Tour who were able to acquire sculptures discovered in these excavations carried out in and around Rome. In order to execute his plans, Lord Shelburne secured the help of Hamilton, who, along with Thomas Jenkins, controlled most of the supply of antiquities from Rome sold to English patrons.

The rare Roman marble terminal figure of Dionysus leading Christie’s Classic Week Antiquities sale this 16 December was sourced in Rome

by Hamilton for Lord Shelburne. Discovered in 1775

by Hamilton at Hadrian's Villa the figure takes the form of a herm, a stone column topped by the head of the god Dionysus, the God of Wine & Festivity.

The sculpture formed part of one of the most celebrated art collections of the period, until it was offered for sale at Christie's London in 1930 and entered the Bergsten Collection in Stockholm. At the 1930 auction it was purchased for £136 10s.

A Roman marble terminal figure of Dionysus, circa 2nd century A.D. 151 cm high. Estimate GBP 700,000 – GBP 1,000,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2020.

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ANTIQUITIES

A Greek marble head of a youth, late classical to early Hellenistic period, circa 4th century B.C. 20.4 cm high.

Estimate GBP 10,000 – GBP 15,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2020.

T

his head of a youth is likely to have come from a deep relief as evidenced by the attachment break at the back of his head. The soft modelling of the features with the thickly-lidded almondshaped eyes and full mouth recall the sensitively-modelled figures found on Greek grave naiskoi multifigured scenes. This head has a visible assymetry which would suggest that he would have been seen in three-quarters view on the right of the composition and perhaps would have been viewed from below as some large scale naiskoi would have been placed on terraces high above the street level of the viewer.

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ANTIQUITIES

T

he pose and the placement of the remains of now-missing supports allow us to identify this small scale muscular torso as the hero Hercules.

He leans on his club, resting after completing the last of his labors: retrieving the golden apples of the Hesperides, which he originally held in his left hand behind his back.

This type (also known as the Farnese type) was widely copied in Roman times in a variety of sizes.

A Roman marble torso of Hercules, circa 1st-2nd century A.D. 23.5 cm high.

Estimate GBP 15,000 – GBP 20,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2020.

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Experience the magic of the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum Purchase Hal-Saflieni Hypogeum tickets during December and receive vouchers to be redeemed at Heritage Malta gift shops.

Vouchers to be used at Heritage Malta museum gift shops only. Valid until 31st March 2021 and not exchangeable for money.

ANTIQUITIES

E

xtravagance in the Byzantine age imparted manifold connotations to its owner, including nobility, piety, and virtuosity, in addition to wealth and social status. Depictions of individuals wearing lavish jewels such as this necklace can be found represented on public monuments and on private portraits.

This necklace is composed of seven large roundels, hinged to one another by rings attached to their sides, with small box settings of irregular-shaped sapphires in between. The clasp consists of two heart-shaped elements formed as a ladder-like frame with a ring at each end. The high quality suggests that this necklace was produced in an Imperial workshop in Constantinople. The emeralds, which during the late Roman and Byzantine periods became so highly sought after, were most likely imported from Egypt, where the earliest known emerald mines were located in the Eastern Desert.

T

A late Roman-Early byzantine, gold, emerald and sapphire necklace, circa 4th-5th century AD. Necklace 42.5 cm long, roundel 4.5 cm wide max. Estimate: GBP 180,000 – 220,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2020.

A Gallo-Roman blue-green blown glass cinerary urn, circa 1st-2nd century A.D. 27.5 cm high. Estimate GBP 20,000 – GBP 30,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2020.

his urn is exceedingly rare, a Gallic variant of the glass cinerarium well known throughout the Western Roman Empire and Britain in the 1st-2nd Century A.D. The preferred funerary ritual at that time was cremation rather than inhumation, the remains of the deceased being placed in an urn. Glass urns have been found in graves from France, Germany, Britain, Central Europe, Italy and Spain; they were used both for household purposes – some found in Italy contain traces of fruit and oil – and to hold the ashes or bones of the deceased.

The example we have here has sloping shoulders, but what makes it particularly unusual are the highly ornamental vertical handles attached to the rim and lower belly. This urn would have come from a workshop in Southern Gaul, its elaborate and elegant form indicating that it belonged to someone of high status. It is intact, and appears to be the only surviving complete example of its type in private hands.

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ANTIQUITIES

A Greek marble head of Aphrodite, Hellenistic period, circa 2nd century B.C. 15.2 cm high. Estimate GBP 10,000 - GBP 15,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2020.

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CHRISTMAS STORY

A SHORT CHRISTMAS STORY

RH KAYL, OC

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GIANT T RE E 62

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Above: Rocky, the Saw-whet owl, found in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City, at Ravensbeard Wildlife Center. Since Saw-whet owls are extremely nocturnal, they don’t have many encounters with humans, therefore humans are not seen as a threat. They don’t flush easily so you can get quite close if you are lucky enough to spot one. (Photograph Lindsay Possumato/Ravensbeard Wildlife Center via AP). Left: The 75-foot-tall Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, illuminated at the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony this December in New York City. Until January 2021 the lit tree will be live-streamed each day from 8 am to midnight (New York time) at rockefellercenter.com (Photograph Craig Ruttle/AP).

hen Ellen Kalish received a phone call this November from someone who asked if she takes in owls for rehabilitation, she replied, “yes we do.” You see, Ellen is the director and founder of the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in the Hudson Valley, New York, where they provide wildlife rehabilitation for injured, ill and orphaned animals in order to return them to the wild. After a moment of silence the woman's voice at the other end said “Ok, I'll call back when my husband comes home, he’s got a baby owl in a box tucked in for the long ride.”

Ellen asked where her husband was when he found the owl and she said that "he worked for the company that transports the Christmas Tree to Rockefeller Center".

When they met Ellen peeked into the box and saw a little face looking back up at her. She was a little Saw-whet owl, the smallest owls that live in the northeast of the United States. In winter they migrate and travel south. Ellen knew that all baby owls are born in the spring so the idea that there was a baby owl in November didn’t make sense.

Naming the little owl Rockefeller, back at Ravensbeard Wildlife Center, little 'Rocky' was fed all the mice she could eat. It had been about three days since she ate or drank anything, and she was hungry and dehydrated – her trip to New York wrapped up in the tree had been dangerous and very long – 270km. Ellen wanted to make sure that Rocky was well-fed and at her best weight and health before being released back into the wild.

Just after a week of being at Ravensbeard, Rocky was ready to be released. Since Saw-whet owls are extremely nocturnal and rarely seen during the day, Ellen found just the right spot in a quiet cluster of conifer trees that would give her the safety she would need, and Rocky was released at sunset so that she could find safe cover by nightfall. She sat on Ellen's hand for a few minutes and then flew to the nearest pine tree. Then after about 5 minutes, Rocky flew into the wilderness, to continue her migration south in a journey that will see her traveling hundreds of kilometres to warmer hunting grounds where she will spend most of winter.

The End.

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