FIRST July 2017

THE BENEFITS OF

Yoga

JULY 2017

MALTESE FASHION DESIGNERS we should know and follow

BRINGING TOGETHER WOMEN IN BUSINESS

CYBER CRIMINALS ARE THE NEW MONSTERS UNDER OUR BEDS

Photograph by Alan Carville

Strength in numbers Emily Davidson didn’t plan on becoming a martyr. She was killed by the King’s horse in 1913, during the Epsom Derby, when she ran in front of it with the intention of attaching a scarf from the suffragette movement to its bridal to draw the King’s attention their plight. It was a brave, and naive, effort that cost her her life.

The work of the suffragettes seemed an impossible task – they wanted to vote like their male counterparts and be taken seriously. If it wasn’t for them, it is likely that we would still be without this liberty.

Each country has its own realities on equality – some extreme, and others so discreet that you don’t even know until you experience it yourself: lower wages for women, ideas on how women should dress and address themselves in public… so much so that we become victims of our own society without even understanding that it is happening. However thin the male seal of approval may be, it is there.

This is why a women’s networking group – bringing women together – is as important today as it has ever been. On page 38, meet the indefatigable pair, Sass Woods and Julia Perry, who started SHE Malta to do just that. Some of those who attend can be working through their own identities as women in business whilst others are looking for the inspiration to take that leap.

It isn’t easy for anyone – man or woman – to make it in this world but, together, the possibilities are infinite.

EDITOR LILY AGIUS LAGIUS@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT ADVERTISING & ADVERT PLACEMENTS CLAIRE BONDIN GAFA 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 CONTRIBUTORS ANGELA MALLIA, ARABELLA HOGG, DINI MARTINEZ, DORIANNE MAMO, DUSHA LIA, JULIA PERRY, JULIAN CARDONA, KARL EBEJER, LINE YOUNG PETERI, MARLENE VASSALLO, MATTHEW B SPITERI, MAXINE PACE, ROBERT AGIUS, SARAH WOODS, TONY CASSAR DARIEN, VICTOR BORG. 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 COVER DETAILS BLACK SWIMSUIT (¤29.90) FROM ACCESSORIZE. LACE SHORTS (¤26) FROM F&F. CHUNKY NECKLACE (¤236) FROM PORTO. ADIDAS TRAINERS (¤59), BAG (¤34.95) AND SOCKS (¤5) FROM SPORTS LOCKER MALTA. MAX MARA SUNGLASSES (¤126) FROM O’HEA OPTICIANS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW B SPITERI FIRST IS PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY.

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Insidethisissue 08 FIRST WORD

44 BENEFITS OF YOGA

10 DOWN THE LINE

48 LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

With Australian entrepreneur Cazzandra Bell This issue’s tennis-themed fashion shoot

20 MALTESE FASHION DESIGNERS

Names we should know and follow

Dress (¤135) from 1-2-3 PARIS. Chunky bracelet (¤36) from PORTO. Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses (¤300) from O’HEA OPTICIANS.

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Dini Martinez stretches our minds and horizons Health coach and detox specialist Angela Mallia talks us through it

52 HOME AND AWAY

Events and shopping in Malta and London

18 PACKING TIPS

Arabella Hogg gives some advice

22 ROBERTO CAVALLI

54 LAST WORD

With the young singer Maxine Pace

Homage to this style guru

26 TRAVEL TO RICHMOND

Victor Borg takes us to another side of London

30 THE BREXIT AFFECT

44

50

Dini Martinez talks to those who are affected

33 50 YEARS OF SGT PEPPER

Tony Cassar Darien relives the sixties

41 ME ARCHITECTS

We catch up with Karl Ebejer, the man behind this growing firm

41 36 SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY How cyber criminals are the new monsters under our beds

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38

38 WONDER WOMEN Sarah Woods and Julia Perry are bringing like-minded women in business together

HAVE AN INSTANT COFFEE BOOST

BE YOUR OWN BARISTA

first word

Cazzandra Belle, 36, left Melbourne with her husband and three sons to experience Europe. She lives in Balzan and runs two online companies: The Fidget Factory and The Women’s Business Society. She spends her time between promoting, connecting and motivating female entrepreneurs and her family.

The website I will often browse is... www.entrepreneur.com The most beautiful building in the world is... the ANZ Building on Collins Street in Melbourne, Australia. It’s incredibly beautiful and the inside of the building is wonderful – it’s all highly polished wood and leather.

The most spectacular city in the world is... New

York. We spent our honeymoon there and I absolutely love it: Rockefeller Centre Martinis, amazing restaurants and a vibe that is unforgettable.

The things that I would never part with are... the ornaments and treasures I’ve collected from different countries all around the world – and my shoe collection!

The one thing that gets me down is... anyone not even trying to learn something new.

The thing you will always find in my fridge is... herring. I love them.

If I could get away for the day it would have to be to... Tuscany, to have wine in a beautiful location – it has such amazing scenery; I love being close to nature.

Kuwai

You will never find me... sitting still – I’m always busy doing something!

The best invention is... the internet.

The thing that makes me the happiest is... spending time with my family.

My favourite space in my house is... the dining room, where we play board games, eat and talk together as a family. The dining table is the place where all the action and discussion occurs.

Alex Owens’ loft in Flashdance

The most inspirational person in my life is... my mum. She has endless energy and a love for life – even when life gets hard. She raised me as a single mum and I can’t help but admire her courage and determination.

The most unforgettable place I’ve visited is... the

Hawaiian island of Kauai. It’s covered in tropical forest and there is a mist that hangs over part of the island that is simply magical. There is one place there, on top of a mountain, where it never stops raining! It’s the wettest place on earth.

I admire people who...

overcome obstacles and achieve

success.

I’m thankful for... my passion in business.

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beautiful family and finding my

One thing I never get around to doing and wish to is...

The last song I listened to was...

Sweet Dreams by the Eurhythmics – it’s my favourite song of all time!

I would like to learn how to... fly a plane. That would be cool!

The book I am reading is... Scaling Up: How a few companies make it and why the rest don’t by Verne Harnish My most recent find... is the Victoria Lines: there are some interesting man-made caves there and it’s a really good hike.

buying a warehouse apartment in New York: it has been a dream of mine ever since I watched Flashdance when I was a child.

If had no choice but to change my line of work I would love to be... a psychologist.

My most luxurious habit is...

getting a facial at the

Corinthia Palace.

Find out more about Cazzandra’s work through her websites: www.thefidgetfactory.com and https://wbsociety.com. You can also check out The Women’s Business Society WBS Podcast: https://goo.gl/gpJLT1 and the WBS Magazine: https://goo.gl/mqT5Bl. Email Cazzandra on cazz@wbsociety.com

DOWN THE LINE STYLING: DORIANNE MAMO FROM WWW.ASKDORIANNE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY: MATTHEW B SPITERI HAIR: ROBERT AGIUS FROM STRANJÉ HAIRDRESSING, ATTARD MAKE-UP: MARLENE VASSALLO FROM BLISS HAIR & MAKEUP MODEL: BLANKA FROM NOTICED MODELS LOCATION: BIRKIRKARA TENNIS CLUB

Dress (¤115) and belt (¤65) from 1-2-3 PARIS. Earrings (¤43) from PORTO. Cap (¤19), Sports bag (¤36.80) Adidas trainers (¤59) and Puma flask (¤12) from SPORTS LOCKER MALTA. Vintage tennis racket (¤20) from GIGI’S ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES. 10

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Dress (造135) from 1-2-3 PARIS. Chunky bracelet (造36) from PORTO. Perine flats (造59) from ALDO SHOES &ACCESSORIES. Socks (造5) from SPORTS LOCKER MALTA.

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Puma sports crop top (¤29 ) from SPORTS LOCKER MALTA. Denim dungaree (¤36) from F&F. Shizuko wedges (¤99) from ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES. Vintage tennis racket (¤20) from GIGI’S ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES.

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Shirt (¤115) from 1-2-3 PARIS. Necklace (¤45), ring (¤29) and Bracelets (¤30 and ¤39) from PORTO. Black heels (¤79) from ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES. Max Mara Sunglasses (¤210) from O’HEA OPTICIANS. 14

Swimsuit (¤18) from F&F. Earrings (¤43) and Bracelets (¤36 each) from PORTO. Pearls are Stylist’s own. Joni slippers (¤59) from ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES. Etnia Barcelona Sunglasses (¤179) from O’HEA OPTICIANS. 15

Crochet crop top (¤19.95) from ACCESSORIZE. Naven slippers (¤75) from ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES. Persol spectacles (¤203) from O’HEA OPTICIANS. Earrings and Skirt are sylist’s own.

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OUTLETS FEATURED: 1-2-3 PARIS Westin Dragonara Resort, St Julian’s, tel. 21375781. O’HEA OPTICIANS 191 The Strand, Gzira, tel. 21315590. F&F The Plaza Shopping Mall, Sliema, and Pama Shopping Mall, Mosta, tel. 21437290. ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES The Point Shopping Mall, Tigne, tel. 99751057, Valletta, tel. 99892331, Pama Shopping Mall, tel. 99854540, Paola, tel. 99892332, Gozo, tel. 99000106. ACCESSORIZE Bisazza Street, Sliema, tel. 2134 6080. SPORTS LOCKER MALTA Sqaq it-Torri, Sliema, tel: 9996 9456. PORTO Portomaso Shopping Complex, St Julian’s, tel. 21372079, GIGI’S ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES 63, Triq Domenico Cachia, B’Kara, tel. 79851150.

LOCATION: BIRKIRKARA TENNIS CLUB Sqaq it-tigieg, Birkirkara, tel. 99472349.

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Suitcase saga

T

OVER-PACKING IS USUALLY MY CRIME OF CHOICE – OVERESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF THINGS I NEED AND GOING WAY ABOVE THAT LUGGAGE WEIGHT LIMIT

BY ARABELLA HOGG

he date draws closer and closer – it’s almost holiday time! You’ve bought a new summer dress and a pair of clean, shiny flip-flops and completed your pharmacy haul – sunscreen, etc, check.

There is, however, a dark cloud hanging over your vacation excitement – packing.

I have honestly never met anyone who likes packing: it’s almost guaranteed that a conversation with anyone before they go abroad will be about how much they truly loathe packing, accompanied by a universal collection of sighs and nods of agreement from anyone involved in the chat.

If you’re like me, you wait until the night before the flight to zoom around your home as quickly as possible, piling all necessary (and unnecessary) items into your suitcase. I usually pack around three outfit changes per day – ‘just in case’ – when in reality I pretty much live in one bikini, one pair of sandals and a handful of outfits I wear on rotation for the entire duration of my holiday. Over-packing is usually my crime of choice – overestimating the amount of things I need and going way above that luggage weight limit, whilst simultaneously forgetting to pack something important

1

The Tried and the Tested. I have a pair of

high-waisted ‘repurposed’ Levis shorts that I bought online and which I simply can’t go wrong with. I have worn these babies for years: on top of a one-piece bathing suit for by the pool, throwing on a basic white tee during the day, or tucking in a sheer cami top for the evening. Bring items that you frequently use and feel comfortable in. Holiday wear is not about reinventing the (fashion) wheel.

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2

Bejewelled. One or two pieces of jewellery go a long way in a holiday wardrobe. I love to take my Chopard Happy Diamond white gold necklace everywhere: it creates instant glam for the evenings. If you are an earrings girl, some summery hoops look great with floaty dresses and salty beach hair.

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HOLIDAY WEAR IS NOT ABOUT REINVENTING THE (FASHION) WHEEL (usually a phone charger and aforementioned sunscreen purposely bought for the trip.)

I have come to realise that there is usually a purpose for those sensible life lessons that have been drilled into us by our elders: making lists being one of them. It’s true, a list written by hand does jog the memory for things perhaps forgotten, and itemising things and being able to cross them off one by one is pretty satisfying.

From the first holiday on which we took our daughter, I vowed to be a bit more organised about the whole chore of it all. I decided to write a list of things I needed to pack and it did, in fact, help the daunting challenge. From then on, I decided to tackle packing head-on to hone my skills. There are a few rules I use to simplify the whole experience – ways to make the unbearable task of packing slightly more bearable.

Footwear. You know the saying ‘give a

girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world’ – well, it’s pretty well spot on. All you need for any holiday is just two pairs of shoes…really! There is nothing worse than wasting valuable suitcase space on shoes you won’t even wear once.

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When you’ve narrowed down the shortlist

of key players for your summer hol, lay them out on your bed and follow Coco Chanel’s golden rule: remove one item! The more minimalist you go, the more room there is in your luggage for any holiday purchases…it’s a win-win.

50% SALE

NEW OPENING HOURS Monday - Saturday: 10am - 7pm Westin Dragonara Resort, St. Julians T: 21375781

www.1-2-3.fr

3 MALTESE FASHION DESIGNERS

Rosemarie Abela

you should know about and follow Rosemarie Abela

Gaetano Busuttil

By Line Young Peteri

Mark Parascandalo

Gaetano Busuttil

altese design has started to develop and mature, and I have taken a keen interest in following these young and very talented people:

1. Rosemarie Abela Studios The artist Rosemaria Abela is a 25 year old from Siggiewi. She studied and graduated from the prestigious Polimoda Fashion School in Florence in 2014. And decided to launch her first collection at Malta Fashion Week in 2014 where she won the award for best upcoming designer. Since then she has established herself in Malta from her fashion studio in Qormi, and will work on her ready-to-wear-line: La Cupola from a pop-up shop from the renowned People and Skin in Sliema in September 2017.

2. Skandlu by Mark Parascandalo The rebel, Mark Parascandalo, is a 30 year old from Birgu, who has had an strong interest in fashion since a little boy, inspired also by his mother's shop in Birgu. He helped her with decorating the windows in the shop and soon started sketching clothing 20

designs and eventually attended the Art and Design course at MCAST. In spring of 2010, he moved to London to take his interest in fashion a big step further. He later returned to Malta and fast became a darling with local stars and bloggers, who is often seen in his edgy clothes.

3. Couture by Gaetano The romantic, Gaetano Busuttil, is a 27 year old from Hamrun. Gaetano has been drawn to music and the beauty of design since a young boy, sketching and drawing and playing around with different material and fabrics to create dresses. At 19, he worked in a textile shop with no diploma or relevant education, just an iron-will and a sense of beauty. Equipped with a pen and pencil he learnt what to do. A big part of his job was to pin mannequins with pieces of material to make it look like dresses, and without knowing it Gaetano learnt by himself one of the hardest disciplines in tailoring: draping. After that he found it easy to learn to sew the dresses. In 2015 he received The New Designer award from Malta Fashion Week for the first time in 2015. His reputation and brand as an established designer was made. Last year he started making dresses for Claudia Fanillo, and created a whole collection inspired by music's greatest Divas, which was also the name on his latest collection.

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Mark Parascandalo

The master of prints

Line Young Peteri takes a look at the life and work of this fashion genius. oberto Cavalli showed his first collection of printed leather gowns in 1970 and has since built a desirable lifestyle empire. Exotic elegance, wild prints and bohemian glamour are inherent in every collection and his seductive cuts have provided everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Victoria Beckham with redcarpet drama.

With his personal take on denim in the eighties as part of his youth line, Just Cavalli, Roberto is a designer of both substance and style, having made cutting-edge developments in textile technology throughout his career. At the age of 77, Roberto Cavalli is still active as the creative director of menswear and ambassador for his own brand and maintains an extravagant lifestyle at his Tuscan estate, with pools and a vineyard, a stable of racehorses – the jockeys wear leopard-print Cavalli silks – and a vast collection of gadgets: Ferraris, a helicopter and a 138-foot, iridescent purple yacht. He is the embodiment of the extravagance that he sells.

When asked about retiring, he replied: “Well, sometimes I say that I will when I’m completely tired – 22

WHEN I WAS 25 I BOUGHT MY FIRST PAIR OF JUST CAVALLI JEANS AND EVEN AFTER I GAINED WEIGHT I KEPT THEM FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE SO AMAZING.

Timeline

specialising in textile prints. He spent years perfecting his prints.

In the early 1970s he invented a method of printing on leather, quickly attracting the attention of fashion houses such as Hermés and Pierre Cardin, both of which hired him to create prints for them.

For its first re-design in 25 years, Playboy magazine called on Cavalli to vamp up its famous bunny costumes in June 2005. “[Roberto] too embraces the good life, inspires an aspirational lifestyle for a jet-set crowd and, of course, celebrates beautiful women,” enthused Playboy CEO Christie Hefner.

Cavalli opened his first boutique in SaintTropez in 1972, foreseeing the potential of the fishing village as a desirable destination for fashion’s elite.

In 2000, confirming his status as a pioneer in the denim world, Roberto Cavalli launched Cavalli Jeans – later renamed Just Cavalli.

Line is a 40 year old Danish expat, and coowner of the online shoe company roccamore.com, who has lived in Malta for almost eight years. She has a keen interest in technology, but loves fashion even more!

Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence in 1940. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, introduced him to art when he was a little boy, and he later studied at the local art school,

Keep up with Line online at www.lineyoung.com and www.instagram.com/lineyoung

but I feel a lot of responsibility to my fans: what they expect from me. They expect a lot but, at the same time, fashion is part of my DNA. I could never live without it.”

Roberto Cavalli. Photo by Store

Christian Dior

Roberto Cavalli

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Stamerra bracelet / PORTO

Striped dress / 123 PARIS

S

Dalirien cross-body bag / ALDO SHOES & ACCESSORIES (¤49) Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses / O’HEA OPTICIANS

s e p i r t S l a n o ensati r ... a e w : e v a r b Be bold, be

Suede court shoe /

Karen Millen (¤133

on sale)

Danitsa dress / MONSOON (¤265)

SOON

Colette Stripe / M ON

Texture stripe knit dress / KAREN MILLEN (¤200)

AWARD

WINNING PROFESSIONAL

PHOTOGRAPHY m. 77242490

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Royal RICHMOND Words & photos by Victor Paul Borg

I

f you travel up the River Thames from Westminster in central London, as the royals have done for hundreds of years, you pass the ruined hulk of the old power station at Battersea and then the landscape begins to change. The buildings thin out and the greenery thickens, the vistas become green and flat and waterfowl replace the river traffic.

The river meanders fickly at this stretch, and the straggles of wild water-birds – swans, ducks, grebes, geese, herons, egrets, even terns and gulls – are a harbinger of the natural landscapes ahead. A little further on, after a boat journey lasting almost an hour from Westminster, the boat arrives in Richmond on the edge of London – which is where the royals disembarked, heading for their palaces or country retreats, the very same buildings that, together with grand parks, now comprise the eminent tourist attractions in Richmond.

As you disembark, your first impression of Richmond will probably be your lasting impression. Richmond is different: it remains aloof and seemingly separate from the city. It is affluent, rural, and palatial – and offers a great day out, with a plethora of historical and outdoor delights that are not found anywhere else in London. All the attractions are close to the river’s banks – the most conspicuous and central attraction being the iconic Richmond Bridge itself. Built in 1777, with five grand arches, Richmond Bridge is London’s oldest bridge, an elegant, low-slung architectural set-piece, the light-grey Purbeck stone of which blends well with other buildings and the greenery that fringes the riverfront.

The riverfront is where Richmond’s inhabitants go to play. A wide promenade skirts the river and behind it is a strip of greenery that is shaded by large plane trees, with neo-Georgian buildings set further back. The promenade bustles on summery or sunny afternoons, when dense crowds throng from the pubs or cafes or simply recline on the grass, watching what’s going on: the rowers in canoes and boats on the river, the

waterfowl quacking for pickings, the vehicle traffic streaming over the mediaeval bridge, the procession of people on foot or on bicycle.

Getting your bearings from the riverfront at the town centre is easy: a towpath stretches in both directions along the riverfront, downriver leading to Kew Gardens and Syon House and upriver going to Richmond Hill and Ham House. Kew Gardens should take precedence, being the largest and most varied self-contained attraction in Richmond.

Originally founded by Princess Augusta and Lord Bute in 1759, and now a World Heritage Site, Kew Gardens hold around 19,000 species of plants and trees in their 132 hectares, as well as various architectural monuments. Most iconic are the two glasshouses, the largest of which, now known simply as the ‘Palm House’ was constructed in 1844. A curvaceous glasshouse, that resembles a ship flipped upside down, it is now widely considered London’s most magnificent Victorian iron and glass structure and is full of exotic palm trees that thrive in its warm and clammy interior. Another striking feature is the highest in Kew, a 10-storey, 50-metre high octagonal pagoda that was erected in 1762.

Yet Kew is greater than the sum of its buildings or plants.

Kew is a complex habitat, formed by an interaction between humans and nature, partly a repository of global plant life and partly human creation, a place that celebrates nature and art. I dropped in to see Tony Kirkham, the head of arboretum. “Every time you visit Kew you will encounter something different,” he said to me. “Even winter is an exciting time, with the raw nakedness of branches and life seemingly shut down.”

Across the river from Kew – and visible from Kew’s Syon Vista – stands the austere bulk of Syon House, home of the Dukes of Northumberland for the past 400 years and now open to visitors. Its forbidding, castellated exterior is in stark contrast to the interior – an opulent 18th-century splurge of columns, statues, paintings, poster beds and fine architectural details. It is the most splendid palatial house in Richmond and it is set in vast landscaped grounds – which, however, are not as attractive as Kew. The other two notable stately homes are Ham House and Marble Hill House. The latter has a bare interior, while the former – Ham House – is definitely worth a visit. It is situated upriver from Richmond’s riverfront, a walk of less than 30 minutes along the towpath, and still contains its original 17thcentury furnishings. The interior is, in fact, one of the finest Stuart interiors in the UK and the eye can find plenty to feast upon in the ornate plasterwork and silverwork, the stupendous Grand Staircase, the evocative paintings in the Long Gallery and other wonderful features such as ceiling paintings and exquisite parquet flooring.

Behind Ham House, the land rises to Richmond Hill, the focal point of Richmond Park, Europe’s largest city park. It is a rugged park, with stretches of bracken alternating with grassland and old coppiced woodland, home to wild deer – both red and fallow – and mature English oaks. It would take two days to walk around the park – it» 27

RICHMOND IS DIFFERENT: IT REMAINS ALOOF AND SEEMINGLY SEPARATE FROM THE CITY. IT IS AFFLUENT, RURAL, AND PALATIAL «measures 13km at its widest point – so it’s best if you get your bearings right and explore just a section of it. I traipsed around the more varied landscaped section that runs parallel to the river. I marvelled at the tunnel formed by climbers that swaddle a trellis, a garden of azaleas and rhododendrons, grassy sections peppered with brilliant-yellow buttercups, gnawed and enigmatic English oaks and English parkland birds – tits, thrushes, doves, blackbirds, pipits, and larks – that filled the air with their melodious trilling.

The highest point in Richmond Park is King Henry VIII’s Mound, a bombastic name for a hillock where a viewing telescope is located, pointing to St Paul’s Cathedral in central London, a mere 12km away. On the opposite side, the sweeping panorama takes in the rural cityscape of northwest London: Heathrow Airport is visible in the mid distance, with stately buildings visible in gaps between the trees, including the battlements of Hampton Court, the royal tower and stronghold a couple of kilometres upriver.

In the late afternoon I returned to Richmond’s riverfront – a 15-minute walk downhill – where the promenade thickens with people sipping beer after work. Here, the differences and similarities merge: although Richmond is different from other parts of London, it is also a counterpart of the more urbane parts of the city. Returning to central London, especially if you travel by boat to Westminster, you cannot help feeling that Richmond gives London a more complete and rounded character: Richmond is as aloof as it is essential.

Richmond Practicalities Getting there You can travel to Richmond from central London by underground train (Richmond is on the District Line) or overland trains from Waterloo Station, as well as commuter boats operated by Thames River Boats from Westminster Pier. For more information visit wpsa.co.uk/index.html or call (+44) (0) 207 930 2062.

Getting around Kew Gardens are one underground stop away from Richmond town centre (to get to Syon House, on the other side of the river, requires a bus or taxi detour – taxis will cost about £15). Other points such as Ham House, the riverfront and Richmond Park – are all within walking distance.

Eating & Drinking You can find extensive information about Richmond – including lists of places to stay and restaurants – on the official tourist information website, at www.visitrichmond.co.uk. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and pubs along Richmond’s riverfront promenade.

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THE

T I X E R B T C E F AF artinez M i in D y B e. su is ve si vi di a complex and A few personal insights into

O

a referendum ver a year ago, in .9 per cent 51 , 16 20 on 23 June in favour of ted vo K U e th of an Union. pe ro Eu e leaving th lt not only su re The unexpected l leaders ica lit po e th shocked the first in it advocating Brex eryone ev th wi er th ge place – to ted a ra pa se o else – but als ents of im nt se ad re sp d nation an xenophobia, distrust, anger far and narcissism and sh Channel. beyond the Engli tions in their tia go ne it line, with Brex e or th wn do ar on ye A yet ec omically ing has changed e lives of th ted ec aff early days, noth lt su how have the re and future legislatively. But ances, friendships bunch of fin eir th – le op average pe to a diverse e s? We have talked ad, as well as som hopes and dream ro ab d an K U e th in ls e. na m tio British na UK their ho ve long called the Europeans who ha

Economic impacts so far

referendum plication of the im ic eom on ec st The fir d to its biggest on meting of the poun rd. Whilst the um pl a s wa lts su re reco the dollar on the cost day fall against ed UK exporters, fit ne be s ha ce sin half its n rts io po iat ec im pr o de r a nation wh Fo . ed ar so s this is , ha EU of imports at from the as, and half of th se faster er g ov in m ris fro w no od fo tic inflation is es om D . living ws on ne not good sh squeeze y, imposing a fre pa s’ er rk wo an th standards.

Weaker Pound

sector have been in the charity hard to obtain Friends working oney they work so their often m e th as y, dl ba s for affected much as it wa g is not worth as Most of my European friends livin . e es th us ca ke l ta na d jobs an internatio so far kept their the e tic no ly on e in the UK have “W th indifference. art inflation news wi en visiting mainland Europe. Ap wh out d ab y rr wo e th nd weakened poun yo g has changed be de deal from that, nothin of people and tra t en em ov m e the future fre conditions.”

Job migration 30

his whole family o recently moved A Swiss banker wh t enthusiastic about the situation y ugh no to London, altho e at least as man fears as “there ar vice versa. Thus, al as has no person d ing in Switzerlan English people liv

the first ones to the UK will be sides content.”

Switzerland and th bo ep deal to ke plenty of work strike a beneficial t that there will be He is also confiden rmany, should they have – or d Ge in Switzerland an any companies, including the .M ve lea to – e decid well as modern global banks, as majority of the nsfer company ch as money tra unced that fintech firms su no an dy ve alrea Transferwise, ha London-based jobs will be eir thousands of th ropean mainland. moving to the Eu

Declining value of British assets

the interested on fell through as apartment in Dev out at the last minute due to lled foreign buyer pu certainties. un ed home shows Brexit-relat even further from e pl am ex r he ot An me opposed by ects of an outco the trickle-on eff been living in s its. Lynda ha Br g un yo t os m d now wants to st two decades an Australia for the pa e sold her flat near London e. Sh the money buy a house ther ndum, but when eady fallen re fe re e alr before th d ha d unt the poun reached her acco her what she was hoping for in get w no t and will no a. ali str Au

nd Personal relationships a the moral divide

impacts, as is exit has further financial en be ve ha couple e important, Br e er Th ngible, but mor de between people, a retired British past ta to ss g in Le lk ta m apparent fro moral divi rld over the of bringing created a deep navigated the wo g EU ideals who have circum K-registered yacht. Now with sin po op y gl on ench teacher U str Fr eir A . e th lly ov 10 years on ther peacefu ey want to m ge th to , es nd iti at “we ala un Ze m w m Ne ively co sh banker says th 16. grandchildren in sell their competit arried to an Engli 20 m to ne le ily Ju ab pp 24 un ha on en re be ive we on but have now as we n. Prospect ea ied an rr rr r if, wo ite he as ed t ug M to no t e e lo ar th need might be a priced boat in ent port duties if they o years’ time life im atm tw g tre in in t S ar H Bu so N e e fac fre d EU buyers coul at from a nonam not allowed I bo e, a pl of n am tio ex r tra fo to change the regis Furthermore, the sale of their tion. to an EU-registra

is subject, I 30 people on th rtunately, Talking to over Unfo only one Brexiteer. managed to find to comment as she had “lost a ng she was not willi found the whole thing quite d an it er friend ov ”. sty na any particular mum without A Winchester ted the loss of en lam de the UK connections outsi dum: “Now you ss since the referen trust and openne whom. There’s to y sa l what you d and young, have to be carefu e between the ol also a bigger divid a sad split in many families.” d in which has resulte

l. a British nationa y more tax than s, xe ta y m id or if I have to pa pa s 16 years, alway I have been here ntributed to education. I would co d an , d benefits.” worked hard my social status an the result se lo to rt hu ry ve en feel only one upset wh y non-UK She was not the o. Man ag ar ye a er ov st was announced ju ep rejection and several have a de least obtained friends have felt sed on that or at ba try un co e th left d their family to for themselves an rn really bad. foreign passports gs leave if thin tu Europeans to n tio op e th re have , although rare, we The most affected who voted for what is often d en with a British fri s out!’, or ‘Stop cry of ‘Foreigner interpreted as a scribes her Immigration!’. red to above de The teacher refer s for me, Brexit was a very ‘in er: “A experience furth the difference of finding out y wa ’ your face . At the end of es nc and acquainta ds en fri n ee tw be dship and have to maintain a frien ne who has eo the day, it is hard m so ersations with aled things a meaningful conv he s ha e m Ti values. my Brexiteer totally different th wi on, I can chat ar ye a d, an tle lit want me out of thout feeling they acquaintances wi t life would get gh ou probably th ey Th . try un co e th en so bitter the . It must have be better in Britain charge admitted they couldn’t in when politicians d in the days ey had promise th at wh is is when deliver Th . referendum e th ng wi llo fo d to an already r and regret adde resentment, ange ugly situation.”

Status quo – Anger and Uncertainty

same people sorrow for those the loss of ; ve lea to ted vo for who ut and angry; grief for feeling so left-o sh as a warm-hearted, overlyBriti an image of the odd tea-loving ric and sometimes modern and apologetic, eccent is that, even in th nation; sadness em to make , we can’t se rld wo not getting a connected r ; frustration fo rk wo s ip sh er partn sult and fear of d love’ kind of re e as the UK liberal, ‘peace an m co division still to the EU. “It more hatred and of t ou y wa tiates its n’t learn to ca awkwardly nego we if r future peace fo ll we de bo n’t does needs a big fat Europe. Everyone compared to give and take in e ar t how lucky we reality check abou Some perspective and some rld. most of the wo ht now. “ lp a great deal rig he ht ig m ty ili hum

siding in Malta ge practitioner re An English massa serve the division that Brexit to ob finds it very hard has been creating. “There is so – rs he ot t gs – amon r about how safe confusion and fea how part of much anger and how protected, d I feel a little people feel now, ly destabilising an ck, able to ge hu ro something. It’s ng here on this floati e storm.” relieved that I am th of e dl id be in the m stop reading watch it and not broke she had to st fir ws ne e th n Whe or with tears.” r I’d flood my flo the papers “for fea g so much pain? She describes in Why is it still caus r of seemingly ock at the numbe it as a mix of sh angry ‘Britain First’ extremists and grumpy old folk

Is there a silver lining?

old and pain is t often – once the Change hurts, bu rtunities. The po grow new op it of t ou – shed tablished systems d flows and as es universe ebbs an ways are made e and more, new or m g in bl um cr are compassionate more balanced, for a hopefully , through all this we can start to lly approach. Hopefu municate more other better, com ch ea d at we are all understan th d y comprehen all fin d an ly en at we have to op e another and th responsible for on d a way out of the mess for fin work together to vely responsible. cti lle co e ar which we

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MADC TO STAGE SHAKESPEARE’S

Annual ‘Shakespeare in the Gardens’ will be held from 14-23 July and will be directed by Polly March As all the world’s a stage, so San Anton Gardens will once again be transformed into a theatre for the Malta Amateur Dramatics Club’s annual Shakespeare performance.

In fact, rehearsals are already underway for the retelling of the Bard’s The Taming of the Shrew, which will be staged from 14-23 July and directed by the renowned Polly March.

TOTS is one of Shakespeare’s best-known comedies, although it does have its darker moments. The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio and Katherina – the headstrong, obdurate shrew. “Katherina maybe be an unwilling participant in the relationship but Petruchio ‘tames’ her with a variety of psychological torments until she becomes a desirable, compliant, and obedient bride,” says Polly. “The challenge we’re facing is how best to alter the perception that this play is, at its darkest, about spousal abuse. This is a love story, about two people who find their match – and their equal – in each other.”

Of course, The Taming of The Shrew is also a farce. “In it Shakespeare is showing us up for what we are, or what we could be,” continues the director.

“The audience is not meant to take the situation seriously. It’s commedia.”

The cast is also rising to the challenge of treading this delicate balance. It includes Philip Leone Ganado, Becky Camilleri, Tina Rizzo, Gianni Selvaggi, Alex Gatsy Lewis, Laura Best and Jonathan Dunn. Music on the night will be performed by young saxophonist Samuel Mallia, which promises to be another highlight of this delightful evening under the stars.

“We are thrilled to return to be returning to San Anton Palace with another Shakespeare production,” says MADC artistic director Marylu Coppini. “This is an important annual tradition for the club and one that has been taking place, in one form or another, for over 60 years. It has become part of the MADC’s identity, as well as a source of inspiration for the acting members of the club that provides an undeniable theatrical benchmark for them to aspire to.

“The Taming of the Shrew was a great choice for this year because it is firm favourite among Shakespeare’s comedies. The Club has already produced it on numerous occasions, in 1972, 1989 and 2005, so 2017 marks another exciting milestone in our history of producing it!”

The Taming of the Shrew will take place at San Anton Gardens in Attard from 14-23 July. Tickets are available online at www.madc.com.mt

SGT PEPPER’S MUSICAL REVOLUTION IS 50 YEARS

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By Tony Cassar Darien

lthough few realised it at the time, in 1967, three unique happenings marked the climax of 70 years of popular music – and the beginning of its end.

Fifty years ago, on one weekend in June, a hundred thousand orchids were flown in from Hawaii and scattered over a field near Monterey, California, among crowds that had gathered for a weekend of music.

Prior to that date, every field of entertainment had had festivals – opera, ballet, folk, jazz, wine, cheese – but not Rock. However, a formidable line-up comprising The Who, Eric Burdon, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Otis Redding changed all that. As Roger McGuinn of The Byrds recalls: “Everyone had flowers on their motorcycles. Such a

beautiful sight. The first time that all the pop groups had got together in one place, to see each other personally and discuss their views on music and everything else.”

Practically all the world’s major ‘communicators’ – newspaper and magazine journalists, critics, photographers, television and radio reporters – were there to narrate the ‘extraordinary’ event.

A few weeks later, as many as 100,000 mostly young people, sporting hippie fashions of dress and behaviour, converged on San Francisco’s neighbourhood of Haight-Ashbury in what became known as ‘The Summer of Love’. This social phenomenon in that summer of 1967, also affected many other places in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Hippies, sometimes called ‘flower children’, were an eclectic group. Many were suspicious of the

government, rejected consumerist values and generally opposed the Vietnam War. A few were interested in politics while others were more concerned with art (music, painting, poetry in particular) or religious and meditative practices.

James Rado and Gerome Ragni were in attendance, allegedly helping to inspire their musical drama Hair.

Rado recalled: “There was so much excitement in the streets and the parks and the hippie areas. We hung out with them and let our hair grow. It was very important historically.” Also it was at this event that Timothy Leary came out with his famous phrase: “Turn on. Tune in.

Drop out”. This phrase became the chisel for shaping the entire hippie counterculture, as it voiced the key ideas of the 1960s’rebellion. The term ‘dropping out’ became popular among many high school and college students, who would often abandon their education for a summer of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.»

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«John Phillips of the band The Mamas & the Papas wrote the song San Francisco (“If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair”) for his friend, Scott McKenzie. The song was an instant success and served to promote and popularise the flower children of San Francisco.

The single is said to have sold more than seven million copies worldwide.

During the first few months of 1967, the Beatles’ status as the biggest music group in the world was in danger of being taken away from them. The band had announced they were no longer going to perform live because of the growing physical dangers that came with touring, partly due to John Lennon’s seemingly blasphemous comments on Christianity, which stoked religious fervour in the United States. Guaranteed sell-out audiences – with crowds so loud that nobody, not even the band, could hear a note of the music – were replaced by half-empty stadiums by the time the Fab Four performed in San Francisco on 29 August 1966 for what would be their final public concert.

When John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr got together with their producer George Martin to record their next album, they found that – for the first time in their hectic lives – with no touring involved, the clock could actually be generous to them. And they availed themselves of this bonanza by churning out what came to be recognised as their masterpiece: Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

This loosely conceptual album was both a celebration and a piss-take on the psychedelic bands that had been popping up at the time. It clearly served as a confirmation that The Beatles were not only alive and well, but still at the forefront of pop music innovation.

Paul McCartney later explained to Barry Miles (author of the celebrated book Hippie) how the title came from the salt and pepper packets. “Me and Mal (Evans, the Beatles’ tour manager) often bantered words about. We were having a meal on a flight back to London. They had those little sachets 34

marked S and P: salt and pepper. So I said ‘Sergeant Pepper’ just to vary it,” recalls McCartney, “adding ‘Lonely Hearts Club’ and ‘Band’ seemed crazy enough: why would a Lonely Hearts Club have a band?”

To mark the 50th anniversary of the album’s iconic release, the BBC is celebrating with programmes across radio and TV. Considered by critics and music-lovers to be one of the greatest records ever made, and a major cultural moment, the album features classic songs including, A Day in the Life, With A Little Help from My Friends, She’s Leaving Home and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. The planned range of programmes will explore the stories around the recording, release and subsequent life of this seminal album.

In early June, BBC Two presented Sgt Pepper’s Musical Revolution, a documentary directed by Francis Hanly, which presented Sgt Pepper as never heard before – literally. The film includes extracts from material never before accessible outside Abbey Road: studio chat between the band’, out-takes, isolated instrumental and vocal tracks as well as passages from alternative takes of these worldfamous songs.

Written and presented by Howard Goodall, one of Britain’s leading composers and a most admired music broadcaster, this is how he introduces his film: “Whatever music you like to listen to, if it was written after June 1967 then more likely than not it will have been influenced, one way or another, by Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The record’s sheer ambition in its conception, composition, arrangements and ground-breaking recording techniques sets it apart from others of the time. It is a landmark in 20th-century music and I’ve hugely enjoyed exploring the story behind the music.”

Other celebratory events include BBC Radio 2’s series Sgt Pepper Forever by Martin Freeman and Paul Merton on the Beatles, while BBC Radio 4 Extra will delve deep into the iconic album’s artwork, inspired by the famous faces that are featured on the album’s cover.

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How cyber criminals are the new monsters under our beds. By Julian Cardona

“

Hey @CloudPets, someone named S. Atan keeps sending messages to my kids’ cloud pets and the app won’t let me block him.

Please help.”

This chilling tweet was posted by a father complaining that his child’s smart toy had been hacked by a stranger who was posting unwanted messages to his child. We need to stop for a minute and take this in. We may tend to associate hacking with data breaches by big companies such as Sony, but the thought that this could happen to your own child through a soft toy should make us seriously re-think the structure of our modern lives.

Another Australian mother put it more concisely: “I think the thing that we are all most concerned about is that these toys recorded children’s voices. This is behind the entire design of the toy: as a child, you leave a message for your father or mother and they then leave a message for you on their phone and send it back to you. So, who is listening to it? I think that this scares all of us with kids.”

Cybercrime is starting to affect ordinary people who, over the years, have created multiple unsecured accounts with important profile and financial data. Who amongst us is not guilty of having run-of-the-mill passwords or even good passwords that are used for more than one purpose or seldom changed? The UK newspaper The Sun reported this year that over 30 per cent of the British people do not know how to protect their smartphones and fail to change their passwords regularly.

BullGuard CEO Paul Lipman said: “Many smart-connected devices have little or no security protection.

We’ve already seen how one attack, using thousands of hacked smart devices, took down leading internet services in the US – including Netflix and Twitter. Hacks on the smart home could have much more damaging consequences.” Just consider what would happen if someone hacked your smart camera, for instance? The hacker would instantly have important information about the most intimate details of your life and this could make you an easy target for stalking or cyber-bullying.

So, what do these cyber criminals want? Well, this varies: it could be something as serious as revenge or something as ridiculous as a challenge or even “for kicks”. Money, as always, remains the grandfather of all motives. Small companies have become an easy target due to the limited amount of resources they devoted to high-tech security.

One small US company knows this more than anyone. On a normal day, a small online retailer in the Midwest ended up having its entire business threatened with one simple click of an email link. One employee received an email with a link to what seemed an innocent catalogue. As soon as the link was clicked, the entire business system was infected and all the accounting software and customer account files – including credit

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I THINK THE THING THAT WE ARE ALL MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT THESE TOYS RECORDED CHILDREN’S VOICES. THIS IS BEHIND THE ENTIRE DESIGN OF THE TOY: AS A CHILD, YOU LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOUR FATHER OR MOTHER AND THEY THEN LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU ON THEIR PHONE AND SEND IT BACK TO YOU. SO, WHO IS LISTENING TO IT? I THINK THAT THIS SCARES ALL OF US WITH KIDS card and social security numbers, along with their names and addresses, were frozen. A ransom demand followed, requesting $50,000 in exchange for a decryption key.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the company was ill-prepared, it had no choice but to pay up. The key they were given, however, did not work and, sadly, the company ended up closing its doors just six months later.

Research shows that 60 per cent of small companies attacked in this way shut down within six months of the attack. The average cost for small businesses in the US to return to normal after being hacked stands at $690,000; for businesses that are slightly larger (but still small by many standards), it’s over $1 million. This means that the ransom is only the start and it is the resultant costs that end up destroying the business.

So what can we do about it? Education is key.

Starting with small

businesses, research carried out by the US National Cyber Security Alliance showed that basic training to employees could prevent the large majority of cyber threats because in most cases it is that one mistake on the part of one employee that lands the company in hot water.

On its own, however, this is not enough. Small business owners have to ramp up their security investment as hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Data security policies must be drawn up and be mandatory reading – and be contributed to – by every employee. These policies must be followed by actions and thorough internal auditing.

Once such a system is in place, an Incident Response Plan should also be established so that, in the event of a security breach, the damage done is minimised.

What about the ordinary Jack

and Jill? Updating your password regularly (once a month being the usual suggestion) is the most obvious first step, but there is much more that we should do.

Make sure that, once you have deleted something on your PC or smartphone, it is also deleted on your cloud backups. Research shows that most people have little idea of what bits and pieces of their lives are ‘out there’ due to decisions they took years ago and had then forgotten about.

Another good practice is that, if you are using a public WIFI – such as in a café or restaurant – then you should refrain from sharing. Buying stuff on an Amazon account (which has access to your VISA details) inside a cafeteria is maybe not such a good idea.

Finally, but perhaps most importantly, we must be very careful about with whom we hang out, both in the real and in the virtual world. Talking to strangers is not just bad for kids; the funny thing about the internet is that in an age where cynicism and distrust

are at an all-time high, research shows that never before have we trusted others so blindly.

We sleep at other people’s houses using Airbnb, we buy from unknown retailers who demand deposits and VISA details, we send our profile details so that we can get free stuff or discounts in return for tonnes of promotional material – and the list goes on and on, making us increasingly vulnerable at every turn.

I guess the lesson to be learnt here is that we should only give our details to verified websites with a certain clout and reputation. These will be the ones who have adequate security policies that will protect the details we give them.

In the end, however, the rule of thumb should always be this: if you don’t want your data to be accessed, then don’t share it. It’s as simple as that. No matter how good a cloud system promises to be, nothing is 100 per cent airtight. And even if it is today, then tomorrow it can, and will, quickly change.

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WONDER WOMEN Bringing women in business together In a nutshell, what is SHE Malta?

SHE – Social Hub Entrepreneurs – aims to bring together all women living in Malta, whether already established in business, just starting up or looking to do so, through a series of networking events and workshops around the island.

Our events are specially formulated so that the attendees have the opportunity to speak to one another about their business or future plans and be inspired by a host of guest speakers on the day.

We also ask that the ladies attending SHE events bring along a generous stash of business cards for quick and easy exchange and to place on our specially branded SHE board. And we offer plenty of other ways to get connected – including refreshment breaks, raffles and social media photo opportunities – all helping to create a wonderful, warm buzz around everyone present.

Why did you both decide to create it?

The idea of creating a women’s networking group or society had been brewing for a while and is born of a desire to connect smaller, independent businesses while supporting the women behind them. Both Sass and I have been involved in shining a spotlight onto various local businesses, mostly through blog features, PR and collaborative enterprises. In fact, when we decided to join forces we had already collaborated with each other on separate projects through clients and liked what each other did. So, there it was: the birth of SHE! We joke that we birthed this baby somewhere on 23rd March 2017!

Where was the first and last event?

Our first event was the invitation-only launch at Sanya Spa in Naxxar, with approximately 30 guests – each of them the owner of a small business from a variety of industry sectors. Special guest speakers included Yasmin De Gorgio of The Grassy Hopper, Sanya Spa and Theo Broma: A Raw Cacao Collective and Maria Moller of Fly the Fly Vintage, with refreshments courtesy of The Grassy Hopper and photography by Majda Toumi.

Following the launch was the one previously had on the 22nd June 2017 at the Lily Agius Gallery in Cathedral Street Sliema. This was a ticketed event aimed at reaching out to any woman looking to connect with other likeminded individuals, not necessarily in business but perhaps in need of a little inspiration or even a change in career.

Special guest speakers included the art curator and founder of Lily Agius Gallery, and Elisa Krantz managing director and founder of Baton & Baton,

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Women are marvellous at doing many things, at the same time. However there needs to be a time to connect, and spending that time with other like minded women can inspire and build strong bonds and business opportunities. SHE Malta is making this happen in Malta. We speak to the inspirational pair behind it: social media marketer, founder and director of You & Media Julia Perry and health and fitness blogger Sass Woods.

THE IDEA TO CREATE A WOMEN’S NETWORKING GROUP OR SOCIETY HAD BEEN BREWING FOR A WHILE AND IS BORN OF A DESIRE TO CONNECT SMALLER, INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES WHILE SUPPORTING THE WOMEN BEHIND THEM

with a question-and-answer session at the end of each address. On this occasion we introduced a new section entitled ‘Stand up and speak’ with a few of our sponsors and members of the audience encouraged to say a few words about their business. Freshly prepared juices by Nude Juices – iced in buckets, and healthy food was by Honey and Zest was served. The photography was by Majda Toumi.

What’s your motto?

To approach life with a positive attitude, a good dose of kindness and a whole lot of passion.

What is next for SHE Malta?

Next on the SHE Malta agenda is the introduction of a series of workshops designed to help independent businesses grow – as well as the women behind them – whether through meditative or practical means. We are also planning our next SHE event, details of which will be announced soon.

How can anyone contact or follow you?

We encourage anyone interested in participating in the next SHE women’s networking event – whether as a guest speaker, caterer or even front of house – to come forward and contact us at socialhubentrepreneursmalta@gmail.com or find us on Facebook @shemalta or Instagram @she.malta 39

OUTSIDE THEBOX ME Architects is a young firm that has made many promising leaps. Here, Lily Agius talks to the founder, architect Karl Ebejer

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ou can’t find out much about Karl Ebejer and ME Architects online – he prefers meeting new clients by word of mouth. And it’s obviously working, as he’s landed himself a bunch of worthy projects – both commercial and domestic and in Malta and London – to keep him and his growing team busy.

Karl shows me some of the projects they have on the go, all with their own identity – there’s nothing more boring than seeing an interior space looking like the last one. It may seem that this goes without saying, but in Malta it is all too common to see a ‘copy and paste’ procedure that was so yesterday. ME Architects are certainly thinking independently about each project as it comes.

One such project that I wish was my own is for a foreign-based company and is filled with quirky yet mature features and colours such as a variety of seated spaces designed for both serious work and conversation – and some down time: dull offices take note! »

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Render of part of the betting office space

Custom light

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Concrete desk

Lapsi street top floor extension

THE WORK OF AN ARCHITECT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. THE PROCESS CAN BE LONG AND DRAWN OUT, BATTLING WITH THE DEADLINES OF BOTH BUILDERS, AND PERMITS, AND KEEPING THE CLIENT HAPPY FROM START TO FINISH...

bespoke hanging staircase at John Taylor offices

The founding architect of ME Architects, Karl Ebejer

«This firm of architects has the ability to home in on what the client wants – the space doesn’t dictate who they are, it’s the other way around. The interiors for John Taylor are Sliema are bespoke, and therefore different from ME’s other work. This prestigious office, I’m told, is different to any others in the world, and ME has managed to stay true to its work ethic: using materials differently and being faithful to the project and the needs of the client. They have hung mesh that is usually used as reinforcement in concrete as a soffit, and transformed an originally standard, dark hallway into an art piece – with beams of artificial light directed to carve light patterns on the walls and floors (picture above).

Speaking of offices, Karl tells me how he has invested heavily in his own new workspace. From what I’ve seen of it, close to completion, it is ‘contemporary cool’, reflecting the perfectionist and contained grandeur that he seeks, graced with a large outdoor recreational space to reconnect. It is the perfect setting for this company to expand and bloom.

Malta has, as we all know, been building like there’s no tomorrow. While our little island is treated as another Hong Kong or Dubai by those who are destroying it, I am pleased to see – by way of contrast – Karl’s interest in conserving buildings. One such project in Lapsi Street, St Julian’s, that may not seem important to many people, certainly is! This rudimentary, simple building has been taken care of and given a new lease of life with an additional floor

that seems as if it has always been there. It’s only when you look close enough, however, that you notice the simple measures that have been taken and the simple ornamentation given to show its separation. Whilst respecting the volume, proportion and the language of the building, ME used the materials that were already there and extended it to the new floor’s exterior, separated only by smoother plaster and a lip revealing the adjoining floors at its corner. The firm won a Din L-Art Helwa award, with the judges describing the project as ‘a stroke of genius’. Ironically, the MEPA Directorate originally wanted to refuse a permit for the work. I say no more!

The work of an architect is often overlooked. The process can be long and drawn out, battling with the deadlines of both builders, and permits, and keeping the client happy from start to finish. It must be challenging and it does, Karl tells me, require overtime. So how does he manage to cope I ask? His answer: “The biggest strength is the team, who are all dedicated to – and passionate about – their work, together with the company partner Sean Mayl. Also, I make the effort to get up and out well before 6 every morning to do some exercise – it keeps me a tad more sane!”

ME Architects’ offices are at 401a Triq il-Kbira, San Ġużepp, Santa Venera. You can email them on info@mearchitects.net and keep up-to-date via their Facebook page.

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Why Yoga?

Scorption Pose

By Dini Martinez

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I

first came in touch with yoga at my university’s gym 15 years ago. Its stress-releasing effects, together with a good work-out and some positive twist on my mind, made for love at first sight. I rapidly found a proper yoga school and expanded my practice to include not only the asanas (postures), but also the art of pranayam (breath and energy control) and meditation. A couple of years later a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat gave me a sense of ‘home within’ that I had never felt before.

Life with Yoga

From then on, I stopped falling into the deep emotional lows that had been part of a rollercoaster pattern throughout my teens and early twenties. A career in environmental and social sustainability; a wedding in Argentina and three children later – I could not imagine my life without yoga. Sometimes I can practice for several hours a day, on other days I only meditate for 15 minutes in the morning but, all the time, it somehow infuses every moment I breathe. Having taught yoga for almost a decade, I have observed the life-changing benefits it can have on people from all walks of life, ages and continents.

Origins Whilst yoga is not a religion, it certainly is much more than a work-out. It’s a philosophy guiding you towards a healthy body, mind and spirit and ultimately freedom, samadhi – eternal bliss – which enlightened beings like the Buddha, Jesus or Mohammed would have found. In fact, the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, dating back over 2,000 years, barely mention physical postures. Their most famous verse sets the tone for all practices: ‘Yoga Citta Vrhti Nirodha’ – which is Sanskrit for ‘Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind’. In other words, rather than getting

entangled in one’s thoughts, bodily sensations and emotions, through yoga, one learns to observe with equanimity. This paves the way towards santosha, Sanskrit for contentment – one of the 10 basic yogic principles.

Suitable for Everyone I sometimes hear people say: “I’m not flexible, so yoga isn’t for me.” Physically, this is a paradox because yoga not only strengthens your body but also increases flexibility. Therefore, less-flexible people are arguably the ones who will benefit the most.

“I can’t be still” is another ironic pretext, as yoga trains first the body and then the mind to be at ease with stillness. This is probably one of the biggest challenges for most of us, growing up in a fast-paced world of incessant input and overstimulation. We have become so good at doing a million things at a time, that we have forgotten the simple act of being in the moment. This is what has caused an epidemic of societal diseases, including migraine, anxiety, stress, insomnia, fatigue, heart-disease, high blood pressure, IBS, drug-abuse, infertility, allergies and depression.

Healing Rather than yet another pill from the doctor, often what our body needs is simply reconnecting with the breath – consciously relaxing and taking the time to inhale fully and exhale completely.

Doing this enables one to create opportunity and space for the body to use its inherent ability to strive for optimal health and well-being on all levels.

An increasing number of scientific studies attest to the myriad benefits of yoga. Asanas, the yoga postures, not only increase the flexibility, strength, vitality and alkalinity in our joints but also work on a deeper level. Gently massaging our glands, they balance our hormones which, in turn, play a key role in being able to deal more effectively with the many challenges we constantly face. »

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H is for Happiness

10 Benefits of Yoga Increases physical and mental strength and flexibility Normalises body weight and enables metabolism to function better Strengthens immunity Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown and improves overall bone health Slows down the aging process Improves respiratory efficiency, energy and quality of sleep Balances hormones, together with mental health and emotional stability Helps better concentration, memory and cognitive functions Reduces stress Increases love for yourself and others 46

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What kind of Yoga is for me?

Running through uncountable Sun Salutes, with neighbour’s sweat dripping onto your mat, might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Luckily, since Krichnamacharya, the Father of Modern Yoga, started reviving India’s ancient art in the mid-1900s, an incessantly growing number of variations have popped up. Here’s a summary of the most common ones.

Hatha – This traditionally describes all forms of physical yoga. Nowadays it mostly refers to a more slow-paced practice, focusing on alignment, breathe and relaxation techniques, whilst building strength and flexibility.

Vinyasa Flow –

This is a more vigorous style, characterised by continuous movement from one posture to the next through a series of poses called ‘Sun Salutations’.

Ashtanga – A fast-paced, intense, physically demanding and flowing set series of poses, always performed in the same order, this was founded by Pattabhi Jois in the 1960s.

Iyengar – Based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, this style holds poses for several minutes each and is all about correct alignment, often using props such as yoga blankets, blocks and straps – as necessary.

Kundalini – More

than other styles, Kundalini works

with breath, chanting and cleansing techniques in conjunction with physical movement that is often rigorously repeated many times.

Power – Heavily influenced by the intensity of Ashtanga, but allowing for variations in the sequencing of poses at the discretion of the teacher, this modern style tries to cater for the gym enthusiast.

Bikram – This is 26 set poses, performed in a heated

room.

Yin – In this slow, simple and meditative style, specific seated poses are held for several minutes each to stretch the body’s connective tissue and release deeprooted physical, mental and emotional tension.

Aerial – These poses are practised in – and with the help of – a silky hammock mounted on two hooks in the ceiling and are a great way to explore inversions.

Acro – This partner yoga combines Thai massage, acrobatics and yoga.

Yoga Retreats around the World Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Resort, Sri Lanka: www.barberynresorts.com Adventure, sustainability and Yoga, Patagonia, Chile: www.ecocamp.travel/en Experienced teacher, mix of styles, yoga holidays in different locations: sailingyogafamily.com 10-days silent Vipassana retreat to learn how to meditate, worldwide: dhamma.org Relaxed yoga holidays in various selected places in Europe and the Mediterranean: freespirityoga.co.uk

Yoga in Malta LahLah Yoga at Sanya Eco Spa, Naxxar: lahlahyoga.com Freemyme, Sliema: freemyme.com Lily Agius Gallery, Sliema: lilyagiusgallery.com Power Yoga World, Is-Swieqi: poweryogaworld.com Rayoga, Zebbug: rayogamalta.com Beach Fit Yoga with Balaz Heller: balazsheller.com

Angela Mallia Certified health coach and detox specialist

IF IT IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO COMPLETELY REMOVE DAIRY PRODUCTS FROM YOUR DIET, YOU CAN TRY TO ESTABLISH HOW MUCH LACTOSE IS TOLERATED AND COMBINE THIS AMOUNT WITH OTHER FOOD THROUGHOUT THE DAY 48

l

actose intolerance is becoming a condition that more and more people are becoming aware of. Those affected are not able to consume milk sugar – lactose – because their intestines do not either produce sufficient quantities of – or lack altogether – the enzyme called lactase.

The consumption of milk, and milk products, usually leads to severe complaints such as stomach pain, bloating and diarrhoea. But subtle symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and chronic fatigue can also be the result of lactose intolerance. Since the symptoms are very unspecific and versatile, many people do not even know that they are among those affected. Lactose intolerance is not an allergy or disease, but knowing the symptoms and how to counteract them is important for overall health and well-being.

What can you do about it?

The symptoms of lactose intolerance can be alleviated by a change in diet or simply the avoidance of anything containing lactose. It is also possible to take enzyme preparations immediately before eating or drinking anything containing lactose. These supplements increase well-being

without the need for changing your diet too much, but they only result in relief – and not the disappearance of the symptoms. As a rule, a lactose-free diet is preferable. Remember, lactose is found in many foods that you might not be aware of, so it is important to always read the labels!

In what will I find lactose?

In addition to typical dairy products such as milk (including condensed and dried), cream, butter, buttermilk, yoghurt (including kefir), whey, curd and cheese, you will find lactose on the list of ingredients with the following terms: milk, whey powder, whole milk or skimmed milk powder, and anything that begins with “lact-”.

Since lactose belongs to the group known as ‘main allergens’, it has to be labelled accordingly when it is used in a product. It is therefore possible to see from the list of ingredients whether something contains lactose or milk. Lactose can also be found in the following foods: • Bread, rolls, cakes and pastries and waffles • Ready-made meals, pizzas and preserves • Creamy vegetables, casseroles, soups, grills and salads • Potato preparations, puree powders, croquettes and chips • Deli meats, sausages and stews

• Ice cream, chocolate, nougat, chocolates, muesli, cereals, caramel and sweets in general • Instant soups, instant sauces and instant creams • Infant milk food and probiotic food • Drugs, including pills • Flavouring and spice mixes • Goats and sheep milk, which also contain milk sugar and is therefore not an alternative If it is difficult for you to completely remove dairy products from your diet, you can try to establish how much lactose is tolerated and combine this amount with other food throughout the day. A food journal is very important.

If, however, you do decide to remove all problematic foods from your diet, be careful not to develop a calcium deficiency. You can either switch to lactose-free milk, for example or – if you decide to use rice or nut milk – make sure they are calcium fortified. Increasing the amount of green vegetables you eat should also make sure that you are getting enough calcium.

There are many great alternatives to dairy products that are very healthy. So give whipped coconut cream a go (see page 50) – it’s a fantastic addition to desserts! angelamallia.com

Coconut Cream and Strawberry Pavlova Looking longingly at friends eating creamy desserts and you can’t have any because you are lactose intolerant? Don’t despair, my dears – coconut cream to the rescue! Dusha Lia, personal chef and food consultant. www.baltazar.com

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INDULGE

In some lactose free, flavoursome and tasty treats...

Lactose Free Chocolate Delight: Valor only use their in-house mixture of three of the world’s finest cocoas: Ecuador, Ghana and Panama. This is one of the company’s strong points which helps them achieve the brand’s popularity.

Apart from having the standard chocolate range, Valor have specific ranges of no added sugar chocolate as well as a special Lactose Free Chocolate.

Imported by J. Calleja Import & Export Ltd. Email: storelocator@jcallejaltd.com

Coconut Cream To make meringue Beat together six egg whites, 12 tbs of caster sugar, 1 tsp cream of tartar and 1 tsp vanilla extract.

Put oven on at 150 C. To make meringue mix, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla extract in a bowl, then add the sugar spoon by spoon until the meringue is in stiff glossy peaks.

On a baking sheet covered in baking parchment, arrange the meringue mix in a circle – as tidy or messy as you like – and place in oven.

After 30 minutes, turn oven down to 100C and leave meringue inside to dry off for an hour.

400g full fat coconut milk 150g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract Place tin of coconut milk to cool in fridge overnight and chill your bowl for 15 minutes before starting to whip.

Simonds Farsons Cisk plc has recently launched Cisk Chill Ginger & Lime, a light beer that strikes the right balance between the spice of ginger and zest of lime, making this brew an ideal thirst quencher to enjoy on a hot summer day.

Cisk Chill Ginger & Lime is the latest addition to the Cisk range of flavoured beers that also includes Lemon and Berry flavours. Following on from the launch of its first new flavour, Cisk Chill Lemon, in 2011, the range has gone from strength to strength, becoming a huge hit with local consumers.

Remove coconut milk from the fridge without tipping or shaking and remove lid. Scrape the top, thickened cream, into your chilled mixing bowl, leaving the liquid in the tin.

Beat with an electric mixer for 30 seconds until creamy. Add vanilla extract and icing sugar and mix for about a minute until creamy and smooth.

To decorate, place meringue on your serving plate, spread strawberry jam in the middle, pile on coconut cream and decorate with fresh fruit and mint leaves. Scrumptious!

Nescafé Azera coffee has finally reached our shores! Nescafé Azera Americano is a smooth blend of instant coffee and finely ground roast coffee beans. The beauty of this coffee blend lies within its full-bodied flavour, enticing aroma and irresistible layer of coffee crema. If you’re looking for something bolder, dare to try Nescafé Azera Intenso!

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COLOUR YOUR DAY Creative buys from Henri Luxury Boutique and

Mdina Glass and two not-to-miss events in London

Mdina Glass produces a wide range of handmade glass bowls that are ideal for summer living and entertaining. From salad and cracker bowls to small ice-cream bowls, they come in a range of colours and finishes, too. See them at Mdina Glass outlets and online: mdinaglass.com.mt.

For more info call 2141 5786 or email onlinesales@mdinaglass.com.mt. Follow at facebook.com/mdinaglass

A range of exclusive handmade glass sculptures has just been created by Mdina Glass, ranging from human figures, animals and other objects, like this fun cactus candelabra. Available in various colour combinations – and including gold leaf in some sculptures. Check out the options available at the Ta’ Qali outlet. For more info call 2141 5786 or email onlinesales@mdinaglass.com.mt. Follow at facebook.com/mdinaglass

Exquisite, authentic Japanese tableware including bowls, dishes, cups and more from Henri Luxury Gift Boutique, Mdina (next to Palazzo Falson). Check out these and other unique gift ideas for him, for her or just for yourself. Outlets at Pjazza Tigné and in Mdina (next to Palazzo Falson). Tel: 2010 6306, www.henri.com.mt or facebook/henrimalta

Introduce a piece of classic Greek culture to your home. Decorative figurines, statues, book-ends, candle-holders and more at Henri Luxury Gift Boutique. Unique gift ideas for him, for her or just for yourself. Outlets at Pjazza Tigné and in Mdina (next to Palazzo Falson). Tel. 2010 6306, www.henri.com.mt or facebook/henrimalta

Corinne by Anastasia Pollard

ART EXHIBITION

52 Jessica by Laura Quinn Harris

If you are in London before 24 September, be sure to visit the BP Portrait Gallery in London. Selected from 2,580 entries by artists from 87 countries around the world, the BP Portrait Award 2017 represents the very best in contemporary portrait painting. From informal and personal studies of friends and family to revealing images of famous faces, the exhibition always features a variety of styles and approaches to the contemporary painted portrait. Now in its 38th year at the National Portrait Gallery and its 28th year of sponsorship by BP, the Award continues to be an unmissable highlight of the annual art calendar.

Admission is free and the gallery is open late on Thursdays and Fridays.

DESIGN EVENT One of the five London Design Festival Design Destinations, the London Design Fair is located in the creative heart of East London. It encompasses a four-day industry event that brings together 500 exhibitors from 28 countries, including independent designers, established brands, international country pavilions, features and exhibitions.

From 21 to 24 September, the London Design Fair will welcome exhibitors and visitors to the Old Truman Brewery in London’s Brick Lane.

EVENTS IN MALTA Fashion, music HIGHLIGHTS and culture NEW MONSOON STORE OPENING The grand opening of the new Monsoon Ladies store in TignØ Street, Sliema took place on Friday and Saturday, 23 and 24 June. It was a fun, fashionable and colourful day as people visited the new store and could not believe the transformation from the old Second To None Bar to the stunning new Monsoon store now in its place. Some of the features of the original premises have been incorporated into the new design, such as the beautiful floor – which is over 100 years old – and the original beams and arches.

Promoters walked the streets with giant pink Monsoon balloons to direct people to the new store, and Prosecco and sweet treats were served all day. Goody bags were given out with all purchases and man well-known bloggers turned up for the opening and featured the new Monsoon store on their social media pages.

The layout of the new store is infinitely easier to shop in, due to the fact that it is all on one floor. The shop is wide, with two lovely windows and a large entrance giving a stunning visual effect and providing a lot of natural light. The fact that this is a standalone store, not connected to Accessorize and Monsoon Children, ensures a much more serene shopping experience, with customers getting the exclusive service for which Monsoon is so well known, in the right environment.

MAKING SCENTS

FEAST DAY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

The new Chief of Mission of the Sovereign Order of Malta – HE Prince Augusto Ruffo di Calabria and his wife HSH Princess Tana de Windisch Graetz – hosted their guests, led by the President of Malta and Mr Preca, at a reception to mark the Feast Day of the patron saint of the Order, St John the Baptist. The reception was held on the torch-lit terrace of St John’s Cavalier, which houses the Order’s Embassy, to the accompaniment of live music and fireworks from nearby feasts – which were enjoyed by all those present – with the beautiful panoramic view as a backdrop.

The Sovereign Order of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilisation. A lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113 and a subject to international law the Sovereign Order of Malta has diplomatic relations with over 100 states, and with the European Union, and has permanent observer status at the United Nations. It is neutral, impartial and apolitical.

Today, the Order of Malta is active in 120 countries caring for people in need through its medical, social and humanitarian works. On a daily basis, its broad spectrum of social projects provides a constant support for forgotten or excluded members of society. It is especially involved in helping people living in the midst of armed conflicts and natural disasters by providing medical assistance, caring for refugees and distributing medicines and basic equipment for survival.

DEBUT ALBUM LAUNCH The Maltese band Relikc will be releasing its debut album entitled The Code of Antics on 21 July. To mark the occasion, the members of Relikc organised a live music event at Madliena Lodge Lounge and Restaurant to showcase the album. Keep an ear out for these talented guys!

Luna Rossa Carbon is the new fragrance for men from Prada. As strong as the darkest rock, with the freshness of air, it brings together steam-distilled botanicals and synthetics in a mineral-forward mix: the metallic notes of lavender, the green citrus of vert de bergamote from Italy, the radiant wood of Patchouli and dry amber of Ambroxan. It is exclusively distributed by Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery Ltd, tel. 2133-1553.

WE ARE GIVING AWAY A bottle of Prada Luna Rossa Carbon worth €62 courtesy of Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery.

For a chance to win, answer the following question: What year did the Beatles give their final live performance together?

Like First magazine on Facebook and send your answer the good, oldfashioned way, by post, to: FIRST COMPETITION, The Malta Independent on Sunday, Birkirkara Hill, St Julian’s, by 28 July.

WINNER from the JUNE ISSUE Rodianne Cassar from Hamrun won a bottle of 1 Million Monopoly perfume, courtesy of Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery.

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Seventeen-year-old Maxine Pace is impatiently awaiting her ‘A’ level results – at the same time honing her talent for singing as she participates for the second time in The Malta Eurovision Song Contest

H

ow did you get into singing?

I always loved watching singers on TV when I was a little girl and used to imitate them in front of a mirror, holding a hairbrush. After seeing how interested I was in music, when I was three my mother arranged for me to have singing and piano lessons to see if I could take this interest any further.

When was your first performance?

I don’t really remember my first performance because I was only three, but I sang the song Tomorrow from Annie at a small festival. I can imagine how excited I must have been because I still get butterflies before any performance!

How would you describe your singing style?

My singing style is pop with some soul variations.

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Can you describe your experience with The Malta Eurovision Song Contest so far, and your song Bombshell?

It was fantastic! It was my first experience on a stage of that size! Sharing the stage with some of the best artistes in Malta was an honour and definitely a learning curve for me – it gave me a boost and the energy to continue pursuing my dream and working to become a full-time artist.

What’s next?

I’m currently working in the studio on some interesting new stuff. I’m enjoying experimenting with new sounds and styles that suit my vocals and I’m also directly involved in writing my new material. Exciting times are ahead, so I suggest that you tune in over the coming weeks so that I can share them with you!

Maxine Pace is an ambassador of O’Hea Optician’s. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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