Jo Ward - page 14

Jo Ward has 150 articles published.

Waste Not, Want Not

in Features

With the world’s recycling in chaos since China, once the largest importer of waste, decided to no longer accept recycled waste from other countries, there has been an upsurge in attempts to reduce the amount of material entering the environment which can’t be recycled. 

But why recycle when you can upcycle? We’ve been recycling since the late 1900s, but upcycling didn’t enter the collective consciousness until the early 2000s. Once a buzzword used by interior and fashion designers, upcycling has become a much more environmentally friendly option and is a way to give products that would normally go into the recycling bin a second lease of life. It used to be all about the ‘3 R’s’ – ‘Reduce’, ‘Reuse’ and ‘Recycle’ – but now businesses are being encouraged to turn to the ‘4 R’s’ – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repeat. In effect, this is upcycling – turning waste materials into amazing new ‘stuff’! The difference being that whilst recycling breaks down products into their raw materials to be made into new things, upcycling repurposes old materials into a product of a higher quality than previously. 

The best part is that upcycling will save you money! Instead of buying new and expensive items, there is no shortage of money-saving hacks out there that will leave you with on-trend objects to grace your home or which you can transform into up-to-the minute fashion pieces. Make no mistake, it is not just home crafters, but big brands are also getting in on the act and using their waste to make stylish products. Every piece of the Adidas X Parley collection of shoe sportswear is made of plastic rubbish collected from remote beaches and coastal communities, whilst Procter & Gamble has launched a shampoo bottle manufactured partly from beach plastic.

The idea of reusing recycled materials isn’t new. The ‘take-make-waste’ linear economy where resources are taken from the ground to make products, which we then use, and, when we no longer want them, throw away, has to change.  The system has to shift to a ‘circular economy’ – in which products are made, used, and then remade and reused. It is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

With the global population predicted to approach nearly 9 billion people by 2030, we are using more resources than the planet can provide. Our future depends on reusing what we have in a sustainable way. Take the production of clothes and the fashion industry – there has to be a shift from the perception of clothes as a disposable item to a durable product. How can this be done? Think of renting clothes. This could provide us with a way to access a variety of garments, whilst decreasing the demand for the production of new ones. Look in your wardrobes. How many items of clothing do you actually wear? Making fashion circular will be a hard task, because the majority of us are addicted to cheap and fast fashion, but there are things that we can all do to help make fashion sustainable. We could try and make our clothes last longer by repairing items, restyling them, washing and storing them, instead of throwing them out. Embrace secondhand clothing and before you buy anything new, curate your wardrobe. Do you already have that white shirt you were thinking of purchasing?

Try buying high quality and long-lasting items. Choose pieces that you will wear time and time again. Although difficult, staying out of high street stores will stop impulse buying. If we stop buying fast fashion, companies will stop making it. It’s no accident that clothes from fast fashion retailers are not made to last for several years.

We can’t stop waste production entirely, but everyone can make a significant contribution. Think before you bin! It saves energy and natural resources, helps to reduce pollution and reduces the need for landfill. Don’t think you have to have any special skills to upcycle. Anybody can do it! Once you embrace the act of upcycling you will find beauty in everything. From repurposing toilet paper rolls into a cable organiser to upcycling your old books into some handy and useful book shelves, there are plenty of projects to be found online that don’t require a huge amount of skill.

Before next Christmas approaches, maybe we should be thinking about organising our possessions and owning less rather than contributing to the growing problem of climate change and global warming. You can easily join the concept of circularity by starting small. Many of us already put our plastic water bottles in recycling bins so that they can go on to have a new life and a new use. Although not always an option, try to buy groceries from stores where they are sold in bulk and take along your own reusable cloth bags. Source products for the home that have been upcycled from reclaimed and recycled materials – recycled products have a lower carbon footprint than those from virgin materials. There are some innovative companies out there inventing new materials using waste without compromising on design, performance or function. 

However, be aware of ‘Greenwashing’. These is when companies falsely market products as eco-friendly and then try to make people believe that their company is doing more to protect the environment than they really are, when in reality the product or service doesn’t have, or hardly has, any environmental benefits.

Now that the season of excess is behind us, think about rejecting consumerism, embracing minimalism and make an effort to think how you could pare your life down to essentials. Research has shown that happiness comes from experiences rather than from owning stuff. That may be a difficult ask, because it is probably impossible to completely stop buying things, but we can start basing our happiness on the memories we make with family and friends instead.  

Disposing of waste correctly needn’t be complicated. Whether you are looking to throw out or recycle, from your home or your business, all waste has its proper place. More information about the local environment and the Gibraltar Government’s Department of the Environment’s Awareness initiative – working to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations – can be found on the Thinking Green website: www.thinkinggreen.gov.gi 

STUFF

We’ve all got too much stuff and especially after the deluge of presents and gifts that have been received at Christmas. January is often a good time for reflection and decluttering, but now more than ever we should be thinking about how we can dispose of items responsibly. 

Developing the holistic child

in Health & Beauty

Last year the Government created posts for four full-time School Counsellors and followed this up in the autumn term with the launch of a counselling service for Gibraltar’s schools. Jo Ward talks to Jackie Linares, Welfare Advisor at the Department of Education (DoE), about the initiative to develop emotional and mental wellbeing in education. 

Counselling can help children with personal, social and emotional issues that affect their wellbeing, their attendance, learning and academic achievements, and relationships; and enables children to develop skills to strengthen their resilience and deal with life problems and challenges.  It is evident that a dialogue needs to be started in schools that normalises emotional pain and discusses the causes of mental ill health.

“Our focus, in schools currently, is the development of the holistic child,” Jackie Linares explains.  “This means giving children the skills to deal with life and this encompasses skills such as creative thinking, problem solving, collaborative work, communication, self-esteem and resilience. Our curriculum aims to build strong foundations through those skills so that in the long term children are better equipped to be able to deal with whatever life throws at them.”

Jackie states that the Gibraltar Schools’ Counselling Service operational policy, drawn up by Wayne Barton, was based on two very important documents from the UK. “One is called ‘Counselling in Schools a Blueprint for the Future’, and the other is the Welsh ‘School-based counselling operating toolkit’ which we have tailor-made to fit Gibraltar and which we will again develop further with the counsellors themselves” 

The implementation of counsellors for schools in Gibraltar is just one part of a bigger body of work undertaken by the DoE. “The curriculum will also be addressing the need to promote mental health and wellbeing and together with my colleague Wayne Barton, who has been seconded from the GHA, we continue to work on the development of mental wellbeing in education,” Jackie confirms.  Teachers play an increasingly important role in the wider public health workforce.  Jackie has delivered In-service days, to schools, on emotional wellbeing and the importance of PHSE (Personal and Social Health Education and Citizenship) to help teachers develop their skills in these areas.  “It is about getting teachers to not only celebrate what they already do, because they have a huge role, but also to give them more tools and to make them realise they can really make a difference to a child’s education just by removing those barriers to learning.”

To assist with this, child and adolescent mental health specialist and author Dr Pooky Knightsmith has come over to Gibraltar twice to work with teachers on their approach. Jackie says that Dr. Knightsmith will be returning to deliver a programme on developing the emotional wellbeing of children: helping students cope with anxiety; risk assessment tools; managing transitions in life and helping non-engaging students. There will also be sessions for parents and students themselves.

“Mental health is on a continuum, you are not either mentally well or mentally sick,” Jackie clarifies, continuing, “so we discuss how as a teacher it is our role to help children – to stop them moving down the continuum, to help them move back up and to recognise the threshold when we need further expertise, help and intervention, and it is very important that this was understood before the school counsellors started.” 

Jackie tells me that that there has been a rise in issues such as stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, self-harm and low self-esteem and confidence, amongst other things, in both primary and secondary school children. “Many of these issues impact on a child’s ability to engage, which means that attendance can drop which will then have a significant impact on a child’s education,” she says. “From my perception, and also resulting from the research that we have done, we have identified that exam related anxiety is another big problem.”  The newly built schools are going to make a huge difference because they are brighter and have fantastic resources, but it is not just about that, it has got to be about the actual emotional framework and not just the physical one.

Emotional pain and trauma for children and teenagers, which may be caused, for example, by family problems such as their parents separating, an illness or a death in the family, abuse, exploitation or relationship difficulties, can have a huge impact on a child and needs to be understood. The issues that stem from those can include self-harm, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. “We are noticing this in younger and younger children because they are exposed to so much nowadays. Any worry for a child is a real and important issue and can’t be ignored, but it is all about unpicking those worries and finding out exactly what the source of the worry or anxiety is.” 

There are other techniques that can be utilised on building the emotional wellbeing of children. Jackie explains that mindfulness is one of those that some teachers see the value in. The new counsellors also bring with them a variety of tools and approaches including play therapy and drama therapy. “We have also had engagement from Christian Santos with the “I Am Me” project, a collaborative choir piece addressing issues of self-esteem & confidence building, and Dramatherapy founder, Nyree Robinson who has conducted sessions with selected pupils.”

Jackie says that she is really interested in the therapeutic side of things and on building that up: “but little by little, it is very important to try and get children talking. Student mental wellbeing is just as important as academic outcomes, and needs to be treated as such.”

The steps being taken to develop the holistic child in Gibraltar by Jackie Linares and her colleagues at the DoE seems to be really good news and a welcome boost within an area that has become a growing concern for parents and professionals alike over the past few years.  

Improve your Digestive Health

in Health & Beauty

‘T’is the season to be jolly’… but now that the festivities are behind us we may be feeling the effects of overindulging! We feasted, we binged and gorged and we consumed food that we normally wouldn’t ever consider eating! Do we ever really consider what overeating does to our bodies? Overeating causes the stomach to expand beyond its normal size to adjust to the large amount of food you are putting in, resulting in your stomach feeling bloated. This is usually due to excess wind, created when the digestive system struggles to break down certain foods, or from constipation or food intolerance. 

Drinking too much fizz, such as Champagne, Cava or lager can leave you in discomfort as the carbon dioxide actually takes up more space than the liquid it came in, making the stomach feel swollen, stretched, and very uncomfortable. 

Heartburn is another painful side effect of eating too much. It can be caused by eating larger than usual meals with lots of different courses. Think about those prawn and salmon starters, that delicious turkey or nut roast, those roast potatoes, sausages, stuffing and gravy, and the Christmas pudding, trifle, cake and mince pies. Not something we have on a regular basis and consuming all that rich food with a high fat content means that the stomach will be slower to empty.  The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to break down food, so the more food you eat the more acid it has to produce. Sometimes this acid can creep up into your oesophagus giving you that horrible burning feeling. Heartburn can also occur more frequently as we get older and become less tolerant to eating fiery and spicy foods. 

So what can you do to prevent that bloated, sluggish feeling and to tackle the effects of overeating? Holland & Barrett Gibraltar sell a range of products that can help you get back on track in the New Year. 

The aptly named Over Indulgence Milk Thistle Capsules are a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve the symptoms associated with occasional over indulgence of drink and food such as indigestion and upset stomach. You could also try East Meets West Digestive Enzyme Formula Capsules or Holland & Barrett MultiDigestive Enzyme Tablets. Digestive enzymes are proteins released into the digestive system that help speed up the breakdown of food into easily absorbed nutrients that our bodies can use. There are many different enzymes involved in digestion but the three main types are:  amylase – this breaks down carbohydrate into sugars; protease – this digests proteins into amino acids; and lipase – this converts fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol. 

If you want to get your colon back in shape, Holland & Barrett Aloe Vera Colon Cleanse Tablets can support gastrointestinal health by gently cleansing your colon & helping your body to better absorb essential nutrients. Digestive issues and stomach problems are horrible to put up with, especially if it’s an ongoing issue. Just take one of the tablets, a combination of Aloe Vera & botanical extracts, before you go to bed and let it do its thing while you sleep.

Maintaining your digestive health is important, and peppermint oil has been found to be helpful in improving digestion and gut health generally as well as in reducing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Holland & Barrett Extra Strength Oil of Peppermint rapid release softgel Capsules is an effective natural remedy for abdominal pain or bloating. 

If you are not eating enough fibre, and apparently we should be eating 30g of fibre a day, this can slow your digestion down and lead to constipation. Ortisan Fruits & Fibre Cubes are a delicious, all natural fruity cube that can contribute to regaining normal bowel function. Just chew and swallow one full cube in the evening, with a large glass of water.

Probiotics are thought to help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut when it’s been disrupted.  Our gut is made up of over 500 bacterial species of flora, and when these are in balance they can contribute to a healthy digestive system, metabolism and hormonal health. Probio 7 100 Capsules give optimal levels of good bacteria and fibre. Each capsule of Probio 7 contains a simple and highly effective formula of over 4 billion active friendly bacteria from seven different strains, plus two types of fibre.

A new year is the time to make resolutions, so make 2020 the year that you commit to improving your digestive health. Finding the motivation to improve your personal wellness can be hard, so don’t set yourself over ambitious goals, but gently start on your journey to a healthier lifestyle by taking care of your digestion. 

Advisory Information:

Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional and always read the label before use.

Gibraltar International Literary Festival – Nick Higham

in Culture Insight/Features

Back in 2003 Nick made headlines himself when he criticised the BBC by saying that there are too many “insignificant and trivial” entertainment and sports stories in news bulletins. 

Nick Higham

Returning to Gibraltar for the second year running in the role of interviewer, this year Nick Higham will be in conversation with four authors: Lord Patten, Timothy Bentinck, Ed Gorman and Violet Moller. We thought we would turn things around and focus the spotlight on Nick and find out a little more about his background, his career as a journalist and as the BBC’s arts and media correspondent.

Nick was born in Pinner, Middlesex but spent his childhood travelling around the UK because his father worked for a manufacturing company and moved from one factory to another.  “I spent my childhood in Carlisle, South Wales, Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, Harrogate and then back to Beaconsfield which is where we stayed until I had grown up,” he explains. 

“I was nearly born in Northern Ireland where my mother was living with my father, but she didn’t want me to be born over there so she came home to have the baby – taking her first ever flight from Belfast to do so,” he tells me, “and I mildly resent that because it means I am not eligible for an Irish passport, which in the present circumstances could be quite useful.”

Describing himself as a ‘well brought up publicly educated member of the privileged classes’, Nick went to Cambridge university where he worked on the student newspaper. “I began my career as a freelance journalist via a slightly circuitous route, accidentally specialising in the media, and then after about 10 years of that in 1988 the BBC decided to appoint its first media correspondent for television news. I applied for the job and got it, principally because the only other credible candidate was a man called Delwyn Swingewood and I don’t think they thought they could get his name on the caption at the bottom of the screen!”  

As media correspondent he must have met a myriad of different people. Who were the most memorable, I ask?  “The trouble with being an arts and media correspondent, which I did for about fifteen years, is that I didn’t really meet that many famous people and a lot of my time was spent talking to movers and shakers in the industry behind the scenes,” he replies.  Despite this Nick does conjure up the names of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as two actors that he did interview.  “The most interesting people I met came in the last five or six years of my time at the BBC when I used to do a weekly books interview called Meet the Author on the BBC News channel,” he says. “I interviewed an author every week, some of whom were very famous, including Salman Rushdie and the former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. There was always something really interesting to talk about and it was a real privilege to meet those people.”

Back in 2003 Nick made headlines himself when he criticised the BBC by saying that there are too many “insignificant and trivial” entertainment and sports stories in news bulletins.  “That was a rather controversial thing to say at the time because covering entertainment had been part of my brief,” he tells me, going on to say that there is nothing wrong with entertainment or celebrity journalism in principle. “I had two objections to it then, and I suppose I still have now, one is that for serious news organisations it is a distraction and the other is that, for the BBC in particular, it took up airtime and the time of journalists which could have been better devoted to news of significance.”

His years of experience make Nick the perfect person to answer the question ‘what is the art of being a good interviewer’. He tells me that if you are interviewing a writer or author, it may sound obvious, but the most useful thing you can do is read the book.  “Knowing what your interviewee wants to say or is going to say, and if they need challenging – how you might challenge them, in advance is really important, so preparation is key. “

David Dimbleby used to say ‘you should never ask a question to which you don’t already know the answer’, and that is a very good principle.”

Having talked to so many authors, did he ever have any ambitions to write novels himself?  “No, largely because I don’t think I can and I haven’t got the imagination – how does one even begin to create characters and believable dialogue,” he comments.  

However, he is currently researching and writing a book about the history of London’s water supply.  Nick explain how his interest was sparked in the niche topic because he lives in north London, near the course of the New River, which isn’t new and which isn’t a river. “It was in fact a man-made aqueduct which was completed in 1613 to bring fresh water from springs in Hertfordshire down to the city of London and it still exists,” he states. 

“What I’m discovering is that writing history books is a lot more difficult than it looks – not so much the writing as the research.  I’m metaphorically drowning in information and wrestling it into shape is going to be a real challenge.” 

Gibraltar Insight Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival 2019.

The speakers mentioned above are just a small selection from a full programme. More information about all the speakers and booking online for The Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival can be found on www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com

Gibraltar International Literary Festival – Diana Moran

in Culture Insight/Features

“It was during a routine check-up that I heard the nurse call out that my height was five eight and a half and I said that she had got that wrong, I’m five ten and a half and could she check it again. Of course she was right and I had shrunk a couple of inches, and that was the first indication that I had osteopenia.” 

Diana Moran

An iconic figure from the 80s known for her popular exercise routines on BBC’s Breakfast Time, Diana Moran, otherwise known to many as the Green Goddess, is coming to the Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival. 

The fitness guru is now in her 80th year, having celebrated her birthday in June, but shows no signs of stopping her campaign to help people stay active and mobile, whatever their age. She was due to appear at the Literary Festival last year talking about the book she co-wrote called Sod Sitting, Get Moving, but unfortunately couldn’t make it. This time she is speaking about Beating Osteoporosis, published in association with the Royal Osteoporosis Society of which she has been an ambassador for several years. 

“When I was in my early 50s I took a bit of a tumble whilst ice-skating and landed heavily on my wrist resulting in a Colles’ fracture – a type of break common in people with osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break,” she tells me. “However at the time I had no idea this was typical of an osteoporotic fracture.” It wasn’t until 2013 that she was diagnosed with osteopenia, the term applied to those whose bone density is slightly below the average.

“It was during a routine check-up that I heard the nurse call out that my height was five eight and a half and I said that she had got that wrong, I’m five ten and a half and could she check it again. Of course she was right and I had shrunk a couple of inches, and that was the first indication that I had osteopenia.” 

“I have had a few ups and downs with my health over the years but, most recently, I’ve been concerned about my bones,” she explains. Those few ups and downs include two bouts of cancer: firstly breast cancer in 1987which led to her having a double mastectomy, and then skin cancer 10 years later.

“I was working on Pebble Mill at the time and I didn’t tell anybody about my cancer diagnosis at the beginning. Nobody talked about The Big C back then,” she says. Does she think there’s still a taboo about talking about cancer, or has it changed for the better changed? “Absolutely changed for the better,” Diana exclaims, “and I work with cancer charities and know it’s openly talked about now, perhaps not quite so much with the men, but we’re getting there. Now the interesting thing is that osteoporosis isn’t talked about very much nowadays, so we need to change that.”

So what can we do to tackle osteoporosis? Diana is a strong advocate for exercise, early diagnosis, weight bearing exercise, and Vitamin D. “We need Vitamin D to keep us healthy but too much sun, as I know, is bad for us. 15 minutes a day is adequate, but in the northern hemisphere we don’t get enough sun, so taking supplements such as Vitamin D and calcium is the way to do it. They are the bone builders.”

There are no signs of Diana slowing down as she gets older. One thing that emanates from chatting with her is her positivity. “One of my mantras is that age is mind over matter – if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter,” she says. Where does that positive attitude come from? “My father was very strict and I had to abide by his rules, but when I came home from school one day at the age of sixteen, I found my mother, whom I adored, dead from a cerebral haemorrhage and I grew up overnight,” she states. 

Diana became a model in her early 20s but life changed when she was asked to do a regular fitness segment for breakfast television in the 1980s, going on to become a household name and recognised everywhere because of the vivid green leotard she wore. 

Married twice, the first time at nineteen, she has two sons and four grandchildren who affectionately call her GG, short for Granny Goddess. As we speak the doorbell rings. “Someone’s just brought me some pansies from the market,” Diana says, going on to explain that it’s Robin, a widower who lives nearby.  “I’ve been on my own for 25 years and although I’m very independent, it’s also nice to have a companion who’s on the same wavelength.”   

Keeping the brain active is all part of keeping fit and Diana’s hobbies including painting. “I got a scholarship to the West of England College of Art, but my father didn’t allow me to follow art as a career.” Now she likes to paint landscapes, seascapes, animals and flowers. “I’ve told my agent that I would love to take part in one of those painting programmes on TV.”  With Diana’s determination there is a huge probability that her wish will come to fruition. 

Diana will be appearing at The Convent on Sunday, 17th November at 2.00 pm. 

Gibraltar Insight Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival 2019.

The speakers mentioned above are just a small selection from a full programme. More information about all the speakers and booking online for The Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival can be found on www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com

Gibraltar International Literary Festival – Timothy Bentinck

in Culture Insight

“When my first son was a toddler, I came up with the idea of a ‘ledge’ to support him on my hip. In 1986 I filed a patent for the baby carrying device called ‘The Hippo’, it very nearly made me rich, but it didn’t happen!”

Fans of BBC Radio 4’s drama The Archers, one of the longest running soaps in the world, will be thrilled to know that David Archer will be making an appearance at the Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival. 

Well, it is in fact Timothy Bentinck, the actor behind his fictional alter-ego who has played the part of David Archer since 1982 and who will be in conversation with Nick Higham talking about his autobiography ‘Being David Archer – And Other Unusual Ways of Earning a Living’.

Unlike the everyday stories of farming folk, Tim’s life has been extraordinary, although there is one similarity in that he was born on a sheep farm, albeit in Tasmania. 

Wondering why he decided to write his memoirs, Tim replies that it was simply that he was asked to by a literary agent. “He came out of the blue and said have you ever thought of writing an autobiography and funnily enough I’d already written about 23,000 words,” he explains. One of the reasons Tim was inspired to start writing about his life was because of his father, Henry Bentinck who spent the last seven years of his life writing his autobiography and  unfortunately died before it was complete.  “I didn’t want to let that happen to me, and the second thing was that if you Google me on IMDb, the international movie database, the top listing says that I provided the voice for the Conjoined Gnome Left in the animated film Gnomeo and Juliet – because it was the highest-grossing thing I’d ever done and that’s how they determine your listing, so I decided I wanted to put the record straight.”

His autobiography is a rollercoaster ride through an acting career that has encompassed West End musicals (he was the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance), thousands of TV and radio commercials, corporate voice work, talking books and computer games as well as several TV and film roles. Tim has also written a biography about his father and is the author of Colin the Campervan, a book for children that he wrote as a bedtime story when his two boys, William and Jasper, were small.  “It sat on my computer for about 25 years and then I put it on Kindle where it was found by a small publisher.” The story follows the fortunes of a VW camper van, much like the one the family spent their holidays in, brought to life with delightful illustrations by Owen Claxton. “I’ve written the sequel which is a full length book and I’m currently looking for a publisher,” Tim mentions. 

Truth can be stranger than fiction and it turns out that Tim is actually the 12th Earl of Portland, a peerage inherited by his father from distant cousin. Tim tells me that it came without any estate or income, but his father wanted to be able to stand up in the House of Lords and get his ecological views across. “When my father died I took my seat in the House of Lords in 1997, and it was great when it happened, but a title doesn’t define me.”  Last year, the man behind the ‘Mind the Gap’ announcement on London Underground’s Piccadilly line was also made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to drama.

Ever resourceful, Tim has turned his hand to many skills over the years, from travel journalism to website construction, and in response to what his favourite job has been along the way he replies that he loves making and inventing things. “When my first son was a toddler, I came up with the idea of a ‘ledge’ to support him on my hip. In 1986 I filed a patent for the baby carrying device called ‘The Hippo’, it very nearly made me rich, but it didn’t happen!” Tim is also a bit of a computer whiz and wrote some software when he was younger that at one point was the highest selling piece of shareware on the internet.  “In one way or another I’ve been very close to huge success in my life,” he laughs. 

 “I also love writing music and playing the guitar. Before I decided I wanted to be an actor, I used to really enjoy driving trucks and drove tourists round America, sold Mercedes cars in Morocco, got an HGV licence and a job delivering lorry loads of chocolate to South Wales.”

With so many accomplishments under his belt, does Tim have any unfulfilled ambitions? “I’ve always said that I would like to play James Bond – I’m fit, I’m willing and ready to go – but at the age of 67 I think I may be too old!”

There’s much more to find out about Timothy Bentinck that can’t be fitted in here, so book your tickets and make a date in your diaries to see him on Saturday 16th November at 10.00 in The Convent. 

Gibraltar Insight Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival 2019.

The speakers mentioned above are just a small selection from a full programme. More information about all the speakers and booking online for The Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival can be found on www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com

Gibraltar International Literary Festival – Gavin Esler

in Features

“Whilst writing Brexit Without the Bullshit, I thought it was hilarious being described by old Etonians as a member of the elite – given my background,”
he laughs.

Gavin Esler

Coming to the Gibraltar Literary Festival to talk about his latest book, Brexit Without the Bullshit, Gavin Esler is an award winning television and radio broadcaster, journalist and also the author of five novels and two non-fiction books. His familiar face will be known to many who tuned into BBC 2’s Newsnight programme between 2003 and 2014.

What was it in his early life that shaped the man who went on to interview heads of state and government? “I was born on the outskirts of Glasgow in Clydebank, which was a big ship building community, and the first few years of my life were spent in a council house with my grandmother, parents and two aunties,” Gavin tells me. In search of a better job once it was clear that the ship building industry was in economic difficulty, his father moved the family to Edinburgh. “He was a typical aspiring working class man who eventually became a manager and did much better for himself and for us, but he was one of those who benefited from the post-war boom by getting on his bike and actually going to do something else.” 

Gaining a scholarship to George Heriot’s School at the age of seven, Gavin went on to become the first member of his family to go to University, and credits one of his grandmothers in giving him the determination to do well in his academic career. “Stick to your books,” he recalls her saying.   

“Whilst writing Brexit Without the Bullshit, I thought it was hilarious being described by old Etonians as a member of the elite – given my background,” he laughs.

A career in journalism wasn’t always on the cards though. When he was just three weeks old Gavin nearly died. A life-saving operation on their first born meant that he grew up in a household where his parents regarded doctors and medicine as the highest possible profession. “I thought that too and had made up my mind to go to Edinburgh Medical School”, Gavin explains, going on to say that at 17 he suddenly changed his mind and told his family that instead of pursuing that childhood dream of medicine, he realised he’d rather write.

“I did modern English and American literature at Kent University and then did a post-grad in Irish Literature, “he says. When he was offered a job on The Scotsman in Edinburgh, Gavin turned it down as likely to be a bit dull, preferring instead The Belfast Telegraph. “In the room with people from Thomson Newspapers, who owned The Times as well as The Scotsman, there was a bit of an intake of breath that some idiot actually wanted to go to Belfast, but I love Belfast and it’s like a second home to me.”

After working in the press, I asked Gavin how easy was it to move to broadcast journalism. “It was a quick transition,” he explains, “because I left the Belfast Telegraph after about eighteen months when the BBC in Northern Ireland were looking for a reporter to replace Jeremy Paxman and I managed to somehow get the job without knowing anything whatsoever about television.” Gavin continues by saying that he thinks the BBC gave him a chance because he said that he thought he could tell stories. “Fortunately it turned out to be alright and it was very good fun, and in fact the guy who became my boss is better known to people as Bernard Cornwell, the author of the Sharpe series of books, and we remain good friends.”

The subject of telling stories brings us nicely to his book Lessons from the Top, described as a mixture of anecdotes and ‘how to’ advice on story-telling based on leaders that Gavin has met over the years including Angela Merkel, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton and cultural leaders such as Dolly Parton, who when asked by Gavin if the dumb blonde jokes ever got her down, said ‘Nope. Because I’m not really dumb and I’m not really blonde.’”

Gavin gives the example of Mrs. Thatcher who brilliantly described herself as ‘just a grocer’s daughter from Grantham’. “Whether you liked her or not, every bit of those five words strikes a chord with us – she was many other things as well, but that was basically the story that she told and she did it relentlessly.”   

“One of the problems that leaders have is that if they can’t communicate who they are then people don’t really believe the next bit, which is who are we as a group, a political party or a country, and if you don’t actually buy in to those first two things then you’re not going to listen to ‘where is my leadership going to take us’ which is the third part of leader’s stories.” 

After four weeks campaigning in the European elections as an anti-Brexit candidate for Change UK in London (he didn’t win), Gavin began writing Brexit Without the Bullshit, outlining what Brexit will actually mean for our daily lives. “What really motivated me was not Brexit itself but the fact that lying – public lies – has become normalised on both sides of the Atlantic,” he explains. 

Having left the BBC in 2018, Gavin is now a freelance journalist and tours the UK and abroad giving talks and lecturing. When he’s not writing what does he do to relax? “The simplest thing that I do is take the dog for a walk along the beach here on the Kent coast – I divide my time between Kent and London because I am Chancellor of the University of Kent – and a walk along the beach usually makes me feel a lot better. I play tennis and I also swim in the sea – usually from April until the end of October, if it’s not too cold!” 

Never having been to Gibraltar before, Gavin say that he is still a reporter at heart and is looking forward to hearing local points of view regarding Brexit.  He will be appearing on Thursday, 14th November at 2.00 pm at The Convent.

Gibraltar Insight Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival 2019.

The speakers mentioned above are just a small selection from a full programme. More information about all the speakers and booking online for The Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival can be found on www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com

Single Parenting

in Health & Beauty

Being a single parent can be a very rewarding job, but it can also be challenging and stressful.  Raising a child can be difficult no matter what the circumstances, but as a single parent you have the sole responsibility for every aspect of child care and without a partner this can add pressure, leaving you emotionally and physically exhausted.

There are many reasons why someone is a single parent. They may have decided to have a family knowing that there would only be one adult in the household, they may have chosen to have a child by artificial insemination or through adoption… or maybe they have split up with their partner who is now no longer a part of the child’s life. Unplanned life events such as divorce or the death of a spouse may also have changed a two parent household into one. 

One of the most common issues of being a single parent is the feeling of loneliness, and although you may not think of this as a high priority, it can manifest itself in ways that affect your health and this can have a knock-on effect on your child’s health. 

Every single parent has a unique story and some people may feel lonelier than others. Conquering loneliness, however you manage to do it, will go a long way to banishing feelings of self-doubt.  It can be difficult to know whether you are doing a good job at being a single parent and having someone to talk to can help to alleviate those worries.  There is, of course, no such thing as a perfect parent, so try not to measure yourself against others. However, meeting other single parents can be beneficial and provide a useful support system during those times when you need reassurance.  Try getting in touch with others via online forums, blogs or social media accounts. 

Don’t compare yourself to other people. We all do it, but remember that some of those parents that you encounter at the nursery or school gates may seem to be in control and have it all worked out, but they could be struggling as much as you are. There are plenty of people who put on a brave face so reaching out to someone in the same situation could be the start of a mutual self-help group from which closer friendships could develop. 

Above all, don’t lose your sense of self-esteem and take care of your physical and mental well-being. How do you find yourself again amongst the daily routine of looking after the kids? There is no doubt that you can get consumed by their lives and just trying to make ends meet also takes a toll. Don’t feel guilty taking time out, it is a necessary part of surviving on your own. 

Worrying about financial matters can also put a strain on your emotional wellbeing. These worries can be heightened by keeping them secret, and not sharing or confiding in anyone can make the burden seem worse. Make sure that you find out exactly what you are entitled to in respect of benefits, tax credits and child maintenance. Alleviate the stress by writing out a budget every month so that you know exactly what you are spending your money on and what you need to prioritise. 

Maintaining discipline in the home can be hard with no other adult reinforcing your views but children raised by single parents can be just as happy as those living with two parents. Acknowledge your child’s feelings, especially if you are going through a separation or divorce, and don’t take your anger out on your child. The circumstances surrounding the fact that you are a single parent are less important than your ability to be there for them. Above all, don’t feel stigmatised as a single parent. Families come in all different shapes and sizes. Asking for help can be one of the hardest things but also one of the most important things that you can do. Children learn by example and if they see your determination and endurance they will hopefully follow in your footsteps in their attitudes and choices as they grow up. 

There are plenty of positive aspects to single parenting and this includes spending quality one-on-one time with your kids, allowing you to develop a unique bond that may actually be stronger than it would have been if you were not bringing them up on your own. 

Single parenting can seem like an uphill climb but however down you get, just look at your kids, think about their smiles and the hugs, and it will be a reminder of why you carry one. 

Find like-minded people by joining the Mum on the Rock Community on Facebook: @MumOnTheRockGBZ

The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

in Health & Beauty

Apple Cider Vinegar, the fermented juice from crushed apples, is often classified as a ‘wonder food’ alongside things such as garlic, tomatoes, avocados and oily fish. There is no substitute for a healthy diet, but ‘wonder foods’ can give that added boost and help in a variety of ways that will aid health issues and help to strengthen your immune system. Apple cider vinegar is full of nutrients. It contains trace amounts of potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, amino acids and antioxidants and is only 3 calories per tablespoon.

A Myriad of Uses

Apple cider vinegar has been used as a natural remedy for years; in ancient times for its health benefits and it is known that the Greeks treated wounds with it. In recent years, people have explored apple cider vinegar as a way to lose weight, improve heart health, and even treat dandruff. Recent evidence based research suggests that it may also be effective in improving cholesterol and in blood sugar control for people with Diabetes 2. An article in Medical News Today stated that a study on eight people found that those who consumed apple cider vinegar before eating a meal had lower insulin and triglyceride levels after the meal than those who had a placebo. It may also have antibacterial and antifungal properties. This is mostly attributed to its main ingredient, acetic acid. 

Use apple cider vinegar as a detox for your body.  It can help promote circulation and detoxify the liver. The acid can also bind to toxins which can assist in removing them from the body. Apple cider vinegar’s potassium content helps to break up mucus in the body and clear the lymph nodes.

Here are some ways you can incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet:

A great way to kick-start your day is by including apple cider vinegar into your morning routine. Dilute it into your morning tea or glass of lemon water. If you don’t like the taste, add spices like cinnamon or cayenne pepper which will boost your metabolism. 

How about blending some apple cider vinegar into a smoothie? Add your favourite fruits or vegetables to give you all the nutrients and vitamins you need before you set off for work or start your daily routine. Another way to include the vinegar into your daily food is by adding it to salad dressings, mayonnaise or mixing it into soups.

Because of its strong flavour, some people prefer to mix apple cider vinegar with something else to disguise the taste. However, taking a shot or a tablespoonful is a fast and effective way to get it into your system. You may want to dilute it with water to protect your tooth enamel by mixing eight ounces of water with every 1-2 tablespoons. 

Holland & Barrett have a range of apple cider vinegar products in liquid and supplement form. It is worth pointing out that not all vinegars are made in the same way. Apple cider vinegar is made through a two-step process. First, yeast is added to apple juice to break down the sugars and turn them into alcohol. Then, bacteria are added, which converts the alcohol into acetic acid. This bacterium is what is known as the ‘Mother’, because it is the catalyst that gives rise to the vinegar. 

Raw, unfiltered organic Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar with ‘The Mother’ is high-quality, unfiltered vinegar made from organically grown apples.  Some vinegar products remove ‘The Mother’, a cobweb-like substance that gives the vinegar a cloudy appearance, that forms naturally as the raw organic vinegar ferments but which is, in fact, the healthiest part of the vinegar. 

‘The Mother’ consists of dozens of strains of good bacteria, which are also referred to as probiotics, which help keep your digestive system running smoothly and are good for your immune system. It also has enzymes which are essential for breaking down foods so that your body can make use of the nutrients you consume.

If you don’t like the idea of drinking apple cider vinegar then consider taking it in tablet form. Try the easy to take chewable New Nordic Apple Cider Gummies with ‘The Mother’ or Holland & Barrett’s Apple Cider Vinegar 300 mg tablets. 

Apple cider vinegar won’t replace a balanced diet and exercise and it isn’t a miracle ‘cure-all’, but it can promote health and help you maintain it.

Advisory Information:

Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional and always read the label before use.

 

The Gibunco International Literary Festival

in Features
The Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival

14th – 17th November

This year will see the seventh edition of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival taking place on the Rock. Jo Ward talks to Chief Executive of the Tourist Board and Festival Director Nicky Guerrero who together with teams from the Tourist Board, Gibraltar Cultural Services, The Gibraltar Garrison Library, The Convent and the University of Gibraltar are pleased to be welcoming a diverse and vibrant mix of speakers to take part once again in what has become a mainstay on the Gibraltar cultural calendar. 

The Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival

“We are all set,” Nicky tells me. “We continue to build on the success of previous years and have now achieved a tried and tested formula, so why change a recipe that is working really well?”   

Literary festivals are an opportunity for people to listen to established authors and speakers from many different spheres and to discover new ones who will educate, inspire and open minds. One of the things that Nicky wants to stress is that although you may not have heard of some of the authors, it doesn’t mean that they are not well known in their own right. “This year we have decided to categorise talks by subject, with themes including Contemporary Society, Philosophy, Politics and History to name a few, and that has drawn in people to sign up for events where they may not necessarily have known the name of the speaker.”

Amongst 2019’s excellent line-up are two life peers, Lord Chris Patten and Lord Mark Price, talking about two very different subjects. 

What we have got this year are very strong themes, a great range of subjects, with people who in their own right are very proficient. We have really found our feet and it will be a solid and mature Literary Festival.”
 Nicky Guerrero

Nicky Guerrero

As the last British Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten is ideally suited to give his views about the current political crisis and the demonstrations taking place there, and as a former European Commissioner for external affairs it will be interesting to hear his views on Brexit. Lord Patten is also the Chancellor of Oxford University. “It is an exciting prospect to think that the Chancellor of one of the greatest universities on the planet will be going to visit the University of Gibraltar as part of his stay,” Nicky comments. 

After more than three decades working for the John Lewis Partnership; lastly as Managing Director of Waitrose and Deputy Chairman before joining the U.K. Government as Trade Minister, Lord Price is convinced that there has to be a better and fairer way of running a business. Something to note is that for people who have bought tickets for this event, buses will be available from The Garrison Library to the Gibraltar University where Lord Price will be speaking.

With a good contingent of women speakers this year, one iconic female guest, remembered by many of us as the ‘Green Goddess’ from the 80s, is fitness guru Diana Moran. Now in her eightieth year, Diana is still fit and active and an inspiration to many. “Unfortunately, Diana couldn’t make it last year so we are very happy to welcome her this time,” Nicky remarks. 

Entrepreneur, author and equality campaigner Paola Diana will be giving The Gibraltar Lecture ‘Saving the World. Women: the XXI’s Century Factor for Change’. “I saw her in Oxford and she is incredibly professional and very engaging. She talks about her life story alongside her philanthropy and anybody who is interested in women’s rights should go along to see her speak,” Nicky states. 

“We also have two entrepreneurial women: business coach, former dancer and choreographer Claire Dale, and performance improvement consultant Patricia Peyton, coming to talk to us about Physical Intelligence and how to improve your performance and wellbeing using techniques employed by top performers in the arts and sport.”

Novelists

Author of many highly acclaimed novels including The Librarian, Salley Vickers will be discussing her new novel Grandmothers. Telling the story of three very different women and their relationship with the younger generation, Nicky says that this is one that will appeal to all generations – from grandmothers to grandchildren. 

International bestselling author of Ice Trap, Kitty Sewell will be launching her latest thriller The Fault at the Festival. “For those who enjoy fiction set in Gibraltar, The Fault features St. Michael’s Caves,” Nicky comments.  

Music will feature when novelist Alba Arikha, in conversation with Suzi Feay, will be discussing her book Where to Find Me and singing a song she wrote about one of the two main characters, Flora Dobbs.

Bart van Es, author of the Costa Book of the Year winning biography The Cut Out Girl, which traces the life of a Jewish Girl who lived in hiding with his family in the Netherlands during World War II, will be in conversation with Suzi Feay.

Gibraltar Authors

Gibraltar authors and celebrated members of the community make up an important part of the Literary Festival. Nicky outlines just some of those who will be appearing. “Clive Finlayson is coming back to talk to us about his book The Smart Neanderthal, and in relation to that two people with whom he has researched the Neanderthals – biological anthropologists Dr. Larry Sawchuk and Dr. Lianne Tripp from Canada – will be talking about tracing the origins of the Gibraltar macaques and launching their book Monkey Tales.”

Someone whom Nicky has been trying to get involved in the Literary Festival for a while now is playwright Julian Felice, who is also Head of Drama at Westside and Bayside.  “Julian’s plays are published internationally and he will be talking about the Imposter Syndrome – and his attempts to overcome his initial insecurities with being labelled a ‘playwright’. 

Schools Programme

As in previous years, guests have been invited to take part in the Schools Programme and Nicky has been very pleased with the positive reaction, with some of them agreeing to go along to talk in the schools.  There are several events that will delight children who enjoy reading. Star of children’s contemporary fiction and author of more than 160 works for children, Geraldine McCaughrean will be talking about her Carnegie Medal winning novel Where the World Ends (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult).

Ann Bryant, author of about 125 books, mostly children’s fiction but also some primary music resources, has been to Gibraltar before when she was brought out by the Department of Education. “As well as taking part in the Schools Programme, Ann will also be holding an interactive musical workshop which should be fun,” Nicky states. 

Gibraltarian author Sam Benady has recently launched a book with illustrations by Sarah Devincenzi – A Pictorial History of Gibraltar – a fascinating overview of Gibraltar history that will appeal to both children and adults alike. 

Literary Tribute to Mary Chiappe

At 5 pm on Thursday afternoon at the Garrison Library there will be a Literary Tribute to Mary Chiappe, celebrating her life and work as a writer, teacher, and – at only twenty five years of age – Gibraltar’s Minster of Education. “Mary participated in the Literary Festival several times since it began,” Nicky informs me. “There will be readings and poems from her work by Mary’s husband and daughter Gaby, and her great friend poet Ruth O’Callaghan. 

Guest Chefs

Always a highpoint are the popular lunches and dinners with food prepared by top chefs. “Jeremy Lee is very entertaining,” Nicky says. “He is a man with a lot of experience and a wonderful sense of humour Jeremy will be preparing the opening dinner alongside the team at the Caleta Hotel as well as a lunch with the team from Bistro Point restaurant at the University of Gibraltar the next day. 

Ching He Huang, known to many from the series she did with Ken Hom ‘Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure’, and a frequent guest on BBC’s  Saturday Kitchen, will prepare a lunch with the team at the O’Callaghan Elliot Hotel on Saturday 16th November at 1.00pm as well as the closing dinner at the Sunborn. Both chefs will speak to Donald Sloan of the Oxford Cultural Collective about their work during the two lunch events.

A final word from Nicky Guerrero:

“We think we have achieved a good balance of entertainers, politicians, journalists and writers from different genres, all incredibly nice peoplewith a lot of life experience who are all really pleased to be coming to Gibraltar.”

0 £0.00
Go to Top