Feature - page 23

Digital bank Xapo chose the site of the ex-Gibraltar Crystal Factory as the location for their international headquarters in Gibraltar. 

“We won a Group Heritage Award in 2021 for the work we did here and as a result of that I have been asked to give a tour for the Gibraltar Heritage society in December,” says Albert Rocca, Brand Ambassador for Xapo Bank Gibraltar. “We needed a physical presence for our digital bank and we wanted to show that we were doing something new within something old.”

Albert explains that there was a three pronged effort that went into the final result. “Xapo found the space and then approached Lagranja Design who presented us with the designs which were then handed over to Frankwin van Kleef’s design and construction firm Invision Design, so it was a collaborative approach.”

“We picked this spot because it has always been a very important space within the history of Gibraltar, from the Moors in 711 who built a stronghold here and through the centuries to the 1500s when the battlements at the back were built by the Spanish, and then from the 1700s where bomb proof barracks were built,” Albert explains.  “There are over 1,200 years of history on this site and we had to decide what to reveal.”

The bank occupies two arched bays of the barracks complex, constructed in limestone (interestingly shipped to Gibraltar from Cardiff), with the ceilings supported by original wooden beams. These, and the stone walls, were cleaned, restored, and left in their natural state, lending the space a feeling of an ancient bank vault.

There are distinctly different zoned areas, the first being the common area open to the public where shallow pools flank either side of the reception hall which can be used for art and cultural events. “The water acts as a mirror and because we couldn’t build up or down, it gives height, depth and a luminosity to the space.” At night, people passing by will notice laser beams crisscrossing the pools.

“This area will hopefully attract the public into asking what else is here and what is inside the other areas of Xapo Bank,” Albert states. Members of the bank can use the banking hall, entered via the original stones arches and accessed via a security facial recognition keypad. Behind this is a boardroom and the far end opens out onto a walled patio which can be used as both a leisure and work area.

“Everything that we built says something about us, for example everything in the banking hall is biodegradable,” Albert says, pointing out a room divider made out of 3D printed corn based plastic.

Xapo Bank is a remote firm, with over 250 employees working in 42 countries around the globe, so Zoom is an important part of the infrastructure. “Xapo was ahead of the curve in adopting Zoom in 2016, but it is now commonplace to have Wi-Fi in boardrooms,” he comments.

Albert takes me into a small room, a workspace now also used for staff meetings that was uncovered as the building process commenced. “It was a room lost to time, but as we started cleaning the walls we found an entrance to this catacomb.” One of the downsides of keeping the heritage intact is that the stone walls have to be painted every four weeks otherwise they would crumble. “There is a constant upkeep for this monument,” Albert remarks. 

We pass by what Albert refers to as ‘the Harry Potter steps’. “They go up to nowhere but were once used by soldiers from the Garrison who would go into the gun powder magazine and then run up the steps to defend the Garrison from above the wall.” As we enter another small space, now used as a wine cellar, Albert points out a wall from 711, another from 1533 and one from 1817, with a small nook on one wall displaying glass shards from the factory. “This is part of a bombproof room that is now a timeline of the history of the building,” Albert says. To the left of this is the old gunpowder magazine, now a bar. “It was going to be a meeting room but when we told our staff to bring something with them that represents where they come from on their yearly visit to Gibraltar, we ended up with bottles of wines and spirits from all over the world.”

Albert is hugely proud of the building that represents Xapo Bank’s presence in Gibraltar. “We want to showcase the resilience and security that the Rock cements in our mind – it means an immovable secure, safe thing.”

“Then there is the very well respected regulatory authority which made it so hard for us, and we managed to not only get a Banking Licence but a DLT licence as well, so that is why we are headquartered here in Gibraltar, and it is a global branch – and there is only one branch in the whole world.”  

Questions for Davina Barbara

Q: Why are Gibraltar Cultural Services holding Gibraltar Literature Week? 

The aim of Gibraltar Literature Week has always been to celebrate literature, books, language and to offer a platform to Gibraltarian authors to discuss their work and promote their publications. Initially post Covid it was an event that GCS was able to organise and deliver as a stop gap whilst the International Festival took a break. It has been very positively received and continues to grow and develop, with the programme delivering a school’s outreach and numerous other promotional avenues for those involved. It also serves to promote topics and subjects directly linked to Gibraltar with many interesting areas explored varying from academic topics to social and cultural subjects.

Q: Is the week focused on Gibraltarian literature only?

The event does not focus exclusively on Gibraltar Literature, although that is one of its main aims, with international authors also part of the Programme. This year however most of the international authors have a link to Gibraltar. Mark Sanchez who writes about the Rock and its intricacies will be discussing his body of work and his recent bilingual publication. Established author Jamie Reid writer of the biography of bookmaker Victor Chandler will discuss this and some of his other publications that feature Gibraltar. Ele Fountain will be looking after our young readership with talks and workshops where she will discuss one of her books also offering writing tips on how to develop ideas and creative writing.

Q: Why is it important to highlight reading books in this day and age? 

Does the question even need to be asked ? the value of books and reading are at the heart of language development and expression. Young people learn about the world, history, ideas, values, emotions, problem solving etc through stories. It stimulates creative and logical thinking. Books inspire, educate entertain can be fun, serious and so much more. Although technology plays a big part in everyday life and people consume information differently, books are still very relevant and continue to be popular in Gibraltar judging by our visitors to the Library and new members signing up. This year alone we have had… Storytelling is a highlight for the young ones and can play a vital role in family interaction. That’s why GCS is so keen to continuously provide interactive and educational opportunities throughout the year through different initiatives and events to make sure books are accessible and there’s something for just about everyone.

Q: What other events are taking place during the week?

There’s a full programme planned for 2022 with school lectures and workshops and twice daily ‘An Audience With’ discussions which will be available to a live audience and streamed online. An addition this year, is an evening where writers and others will share their literary experiences/ anecodotes and journeys through short presentations. We will feature articles in the Gibraltar Chronicle and Gibraltar Panorama and interviews on Radio Gibraltar with book reviews on social media. Special storytelling sessions at the library are also planned, with  a poetry recital event, book launches and a dedicated Book Shop all part of the offering.

Q: Is Gibraltar Literature Week only online? 

No the online focus was mainly for the first edition when we were coming out of the 1st lockdown and there were still restrictions. We were adamant to provide the community with these opportunities and went ahead in the only way possible. Last year we were able to operate almost normally whilst adhering to specific guidelines when dealing with large gatherings, and can say we run a very safe and successful event with many attending the Theatre for Jeffrey Archer’s talk, and school groups able to interact with Christopher Lloyd.

Our Cultural Ambassador Gabriel Moreno flew into town from London recently, combining a family holiday and a solo gig at the ‘Kasbar’, now the spiritual home of poetry evenings, vegan food and an equally intimate setting for both. We have seen him perform there with his ‘Quivering Poets’ on a few previous occasions but this time the challenge for him was to weave the magic on his own-which he did admirably-and to warm acclaim from the roomful of die-hard fans who were bolstered by a mixed bag of younger new fans and some older folk too.  His first set started via dedicating the evening and the first song ‘Lena Kalinka’, to an absent friend David Reyes and some of his family who were there. It was as if Gabriel had never left, the venue fits the poet and his songs like a glove.

Unlike previous gigs there, where the band tends to distract you from the lyrics, I found myself listening and better enjoying his words and music.  For his second offering he premiered a new song about the Ukraine called ‘Pass me the Bottle.’ There is a new album in the pipeline for which he already has eight new songs. This is to be one of them and it has a chorus which sings to ‘Kiev’ so it presses a lot of buttons which endears you to it from the get go.  “For me as a performer I focused on delivering the words and creating dynamics only with my guitar, it was challenging but equally satisfying. For me the night was more poetic because I was on my own with just my words and one instrument alone.”

My curiosity peaked, I interrupted him to ask whether he does many solo gigs …”I’ve done quite a few lately in small venues because it’ easier to get work, and solo work allows audiences to be drawn into the lyrics (the Poetry) and that is doubly satisfying for me as a writer and a performer” A second new song was next introduced, this one had been commissioned, so whether it might get into the new album or not is still up in the air, but its title ‘Marylou and My Cell,’ is a strong indicator that the song is a well observed tongue in cheek put down at our addiction and total dependence on mobile phones.

One observation which I made and put to him was that on this solo concert there were more people joining  in with singing-but they knew the words … “Yes and sometimes even better than me, that tells me that I’m getting through and it’s gratifying to see young people and much older people singing the words, not just the choruses. That was an eye opener for me too. Perhaps it has all to do with being local.” I concur with part of that and add that after three albums and his annual visits to our poetry starved rocky shores his music and words have found a home, perhaps fulfilling their mission and etching themselves in the mind of the younger fans especially. I could not believe the singing from an enthusiastic table of six behind me–and they were in tune as well. An evening with our Cultural Ambassador was turning out to be quite special.

Later in the evening when he invited requests there was a shout for ‘Joselin’ an old song about a colourful Spanish minstrel who Gabriel met and befriended in neighbouring La Linea…”I hadn’t sung that one in a while and forgot a line, but they were there to remind me that some songs reach a part of our psyche and embed themselves there, ready to be recalled at any time. For them this was one such. Maybe because I was too relaxed on this occasion that I forgot the line. Who knows, usually when you are fronting a band the adrenaline keeps you on your toes and at the same time you can fall back on them. When you are performing solo there is no plan B there is only you.”

And so the cream of the catalogue of Gabriel’s songs unfolded in front of us and we were all struck by the honesty and conviction that his interpretations conjured up into a heady atmosphere, where in the quieter passages you could have heard a pin drop – always the sign of a good performer – who at the stamp of his foot and a Flamenco-tinged guitar frill would whip up the small but discerning audience into a loud chorus.  This was our ‘Taverna Troubadour’ at his best and the noisy acclaim with which the ambassador was rewarded after each song is our Mediterranean and ‘LLanito’ calling card. We are loud and demonstrative. We may not Greeks but if we were, a pile of broken plates would be evidence that we had heartily enjoyed ourselves that hot night in mid August. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world and can’t wait for more of the same from the poet. Make it soon Maestro.  

Pioneering research has shed new light on what drives people’s basic food preferences, indicating our choices may be smarter than previously thought and influenced by the specific nutrients, as opposed to just calories, we need.

Today, more than yesterday, more and more individuals attach great importance to the development of healthy habits in their daily life. Between practicing regular physical activity and adapting your diet to a healthier and more ecological style, it is important to develop your nutritional intelligence.

Understanding what conditions our diet, or put another way, having nutritional intelligence will make our choice when we have a meal, much more genuine.

Although eating is a free act and in theory we have the will to eat well, do we really eat what we want? The answer is not easy. There are numerous factors which have an influence on our diet. From our dietary knowledge to our personal circumstances, including family experience, advertising, fashion, financial status or our weight. That is why we consider normal what we’ve experienced at home when it may really be excessive or unbalanced. We may decide to choose some food, not because it is the most appropriate but due to enticing advertisements. Perhaps we have vitamin deficiency because we are on a strict diet when we don’t even have obesity problems and so on.

Could our day-to-day cravings reflect the vitamins and minerals we are lacking? For example, do you crave liver, spinach or pumpkin seeds when you need iron? 

Dr. Hana Patel is a Private GP and Mental Health Coach. Dr. Patel states that Public Health England (PHE) have devised the Eatwell guide, for people to refer to in a bid to stay at a healthy weight and includes advice regarding staying hydrated. The reason for this is that obesity and not eating a balanced diet, can us to become unwell and be more at risk for conditions such as heart disease and cancers. Following a healthy balanced diet, consisting of foods from each food group which lowers our risk of getting ill.  Our bodies tell us when we are hungry, and we should trust our body’s signals to direct our food choices- which are specific to each person, as they depend on factors such as our cooking availability, what foods we have access to, our background and culture, the amount of money we have and our emotions and mood. These are examples of how we make decisions about what we eat at every meal. There are examples of when our bodies crave certain foods, for example in pregnancy, our body often needs more nutrients to help the developing baby, typically food that contain Vitamin D, iron and calcium.’

Dr. Rachel Taylor is a neuropsychologist, podcast host and founder of  UNBroken.

Dr. Rachel believes ‘The body never tells us lies whereas the mind often does. Being able to connect with the body and understand its signals are fundamental in discovering and maintaining optimal wellbeing and health with our relationship with food being central to this. 

Rather than relying on external cues and gimmicks where we outsource our bodily autonomy it is really important to start to ask our body what it needs on a regular basis. The majority of people understand the growls of hunger, but often eat so quickly and mindlessly that they do not feel when they are full or possibly starting to overeat. 

Emotions are chemical messages and are so closely linked to how and what we eat that a good place to start when listening to what our bodies want is to start to become aware of the emotions that we feel before, during and after eating. Our bodies need to be energised and they need certain energy sources to work to the best of their ability and often what starts out as a wanted source of energy can become one that repulses us if we consume too much of it. The body is really good at keeping itself balanced, however the external environment is not good at supporting this by confusing people in what they need and what they want. We need to slow down and really start to listen to ourselves and not be persuaded by external factors to eat what our bodies do not need. There is an increasing amount of research that is showing that the microbiome in the gut is responsible for either inspiring craving or repulsion for certain foods which could lead to unique, novel approaches to therapeutics through the gut in the future. So the key points are that there is a need for people to start to ask the body what it needs, listen to it when it answers and start to be curious about their emotional world and food. In particular what it can tell them about how and what they are eating. The ability to be conscious about food consumption and they confidence to know what their body needs to be healthy can be a game changer in terms of wellbeing and quality of life. 

We all need to be more connected with ourselves and take control of how we function within our environment in order to prevent unwellness and sickness, so taking time to start to ask, why do I feel like this? What does my body need? and What information does my body have for me will be a really good start.’

Dr. Hana Patel:
www.topdoctors.co.uk/doctor/hana-patel

Dr. Rachel Taylor:

UNBroken

A charity swim organised by a Royal Gibraltar Police officer last Saturday has raised over £5,000 for the Animals In Need Foundation (AINF).

The event saw 28 police officers and 21 members of the public join forces at the Gasa Indoor Swimming Pool to swim laps of the pool.

Armed with swimming caps and goggles, a relay of fundraisers swam from 9am to 6pm to raise the funds.

In total, the swimmers covered a combined distance of over 35km – which would have taken them from Gibraltar to Morocco and back.

Event organiser and police officer Tania Moreno, who works in the RGP’s Resource Management department, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that took part in some way at our second annual sponsored swim event.

“The day was a huge success and we managed to raise some much needed funds for our doggies. It was such a fun event and there are so many people to thank, but a special mention to the Gibraltar Sports and Leisure Authority, the staff at GASA and the helpful and friendly lifeguards on duty.

“A huge thank you to each and every participant and to every person who has kindly contributed and sponsored. A special mention to 11-year-old Charlie Balloqui who raised the most funds – a whopping £600 on his own – thank you for being so kind.

“And of course this could not have been possible without the support of the Animals in Need Foundation Team. A special thanks to my colleagues for going the extra mile for us too.

“We had experienced swimmers, the not so experienced ones, the floaters, the mystery swimmers, the ones who collected money and could not come and the supporters who came in for a chat or to donate.

“Thank you to all on behalf of our dogs.” Tania, who has been volunteering at the Gibraltar-based charity for the past five years, explained that it currently looks after more than 50 abandoned dogs.

The funds will be used for kennel and vets’ fees, medication, dog food and obedience training.

AINF works with shelters, pounds and other charities, both local and international, to save abandoned and unwanted animals.

For more information visit:

www.ainfgib.com

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Time to take notice of your positive qualities, Aries, and honour yourself accordingly.  This is not about stroking your ego but about recognizing your divinity.  

TAURUS Apr 21 – May 21) 

You’ll need to be very firm about your boundaries this month, Taurus.  Do not hesitate to be repeat yourself, if necessary.  You’ll feel stronger and comfortingly empowered when you do.  

GEMINI (May 22 – Jun 22) 

Spend some time looking back to childhood days, Gemini. Remind yourself of your dreams of how life would be and the things you’d do… and you’ll find that some of them you still can!

CANCER (Jun 23 – Jul 22)

This month, Cancer, make a committent to yourself to strengthen your personal relationship with yourself. Set some time aside to pay attention to you and make sure that you are looking after yourself in the ways that you deserve. 

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 23) 

Be radically honest with yourself, Leo, and take time to evaluate and understand your feelings. Feelings are often the voices of the angels giving you guidance. But you need to stop and take time to listen. 

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sep 23)

You need to take a long deep look into your values, relationships and commitments, Virgo. This way you’ll get clear on what to do next and then how to do it. Meditate on it all and everything will be taken care of.  

LIBRA (Sep 24 – Oct 23) 

Whatever is bothering you will resolve over time, Libra, if you can leave the outcome in the hands of the Universe and hold faith. Your future is bright so be patient and enjoy each step forward.  

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22) 

The power of compassion will be your greatest strength at this time, Scorpio. When you can see and feel the pain of others with forgiveness then healing begins.  

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21) 

Step out of your own way this month, Sagittarius, and surrender your need for control of a certain outcome. This is not easy but it truly is the best way to the best solution for all concerned.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20) 

Keep your heart open this month, Capricorn, and be ready to care for yourself and others. Self – care must come first so you do not become depleted or feel unappreciated.  You are not alone and never will be. 

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19) 

This is a good time to practice opening your heart, Aquarius. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to feel a full range of emotions. It is safe to risk being hurt and to drop your emotional defenses. Be the real you.  

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20) 

Remain optimistic about your future, Pisces, and continue to hand your fears and insecurities to The Universe. You are being gently tested and you will come through with shining colours! 

Is your heart tired? Mine certainly feels tired much of the time these days and I am conscious of setting aside time to do a little heart healing on myself.

Our hearts carry a lot of stuff … the good and the bad … and we must be compassionate with ourselves or else we lose our sense of worth.  And when we lose our sense of self worth then we go directly to our sense of woundedness in order to function in the world around us and that gets us in big trouble.   

In this period of great transition, it is essential that we stay strong in our core.  If the core is strong, like the trunk of a tree, then most everything that comes flying at us can be withstood. We may wobble emotionally, have physical ailments or injuries, or feel that we are going slightly insane as the energy of the global stage finds ways to infiltrate our being. A strong core enables us to see these things as distractions, sent to knock us off track and destabilise us.   

Over the last five or six decades more and more people have become aware of and involved in esoteric practices of healing. Practices like Reiki, crystal healing, acupuncture, spiritual healings, and various bodywork techniques, to name but a few.  This has been a huge leap forward with many therapies now well recognised as being complementary to allopathic practices.  

However, with the current great transition taking place and the vastly heightened energy vibrations, so the healing modalities need to evolve beyond the current ‘hands on’ types of work. 

There are four main modalities to consider for the Lightworkers of the world to consciously move forward with. They are modalities of ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’. Most lightworkers and healers will, of course already incorporate these modalities into their work but intentionality increases the power of everything and so it is now essential that this work is incorporated consciously and with intention. 

1. Affection. The healing power of affection. Warmth, tenderness, the power of touch. The first wave of healers is bringing this to the world, helping others to feel valued and cared for. 

2. Compassion: The opposite of judgement…
People need to feel heard without being judged. They will heal more of their psyche when they are heard with compassion. When someone holds space for another to step into.

3. Certainty:  Being clear and certain of what you are doing for others. Reassuring people in stress that “You are going to be fine”. We are all afraid of our own power – the very thing that we are being called to step into. So, we manifest all sorts of distractions in the form of colds, injuries and so on.  All designed to gain attention rather than shine. Distractions give us a false sense of importance rather than acknowledge the real importance – our inner power.  We need to help people to feel safe.

4. Trust:   The Healing Power of Trust is something that is increasingly tricky in this period when it is impossible to know who or what to trust. So, we go within and recognise our own divinity and when we can do this then we can recognise the divinity in others. In order to experience trust, we need to work through some doubt. We need to see it, own it and work on it without allowing past issues to get in the way and block out the light. 

These four modalities are essential to work effectively in the areas in which healing is required. For example, trauma is another area which is now recognised as being much more than the commonly held concept of PTSD and therefore applicable only to war trauma. This belief has not allowed for the inclusion of abuses of all kinds and people being generally told to put it behind them and get on with life. Or to go for counselling which generally simply keeps the client stuck in the same place talking through the experience, revisiting it again and again and therefore embedding it more deeply rather than letting go. 

These gentler, ‘being’ approaches are more effective in dealing with the fears currently afflicting our communities. Fear could be described as the Achilles Heel of society. the fundamental weakness, the weakness that can kill us, as it did Achilles in Greek mythology. Fear can take many different forms, arguably as many forms as there are people. After all, our fears are created by our life experiences and so it stands to reason that they are informed by those things that have traumatised us. 

Some people have not experienced much fear in regard to the happenings of the last two years, although many have been deeply traumatised. Yet some can become paralysed with fear at the thought of opening their arms and heart to love in their intimate relationship. Many of us will resonate with the deep fear of being unlovable, flawed and therefore of being abandoned, whilst being perfectly confident in their professional sphere and in other relationships. 

So, if fear is the global Achilles Heel, then the healing modalities of Affection, Compassion, Certainty and Trust are the way through the wounds. They serve to strengthen the power of the healing arts but are much more versatile as we learn to infuse them into our everyday actions and conversations. And, of course they will strengthen the effect of other treatments. They are the bridge to heal our areas of confusion and separation, which then brings us back to our worthiness from where we can make decisions from a place of worth rather than woundedness.  From a place of love rather than fear. 

Kate Mchardy MA(Hons) PGCE MSPH Spiritual coach, teacher and healer. katemch@gmail.com / Tel: +44 7712889534. Facebook: The University of Light Group / Readings at The University of Light (@tarotangelspiritreadings). 

Gabriel Moreno our Cultural Ambassador is very active in the London Poetry scene and he also organizes events to showcase our brand of ‘Llanito culture abroad. Joe Adambery caught up with him as he preparesd to fly to the Rock for a rare solo concert here.

We have never had an ambassador in London taking the pulse of our culture scene while living away from the Rock. You have now been in chair for some months and made that work and even used the bridge as an advantage… please tell us if it gave you any headaches and how did you develop that link.

There are always headaches and stomach aches when it comes to exploring and sharing Gibraltarian culture as we are still in the process of discovering and explaining the diversity of styles and influences which shape our art. Then, as you well point out, there is the added difficulty of living abroad. However, they say a challenge can be flipped, just like a Spanish omelette, to reveal the ready-to-be-cooked possibility of success. 

My intent was to use this physical distance to both explore the intricacies of Gibraltarian art forms as seen from an outside perspective and also, most importantly, to represent our identity in the UK through autochthonous forms of creation. I wanted to show our dear English comrades who we are, part of our culture, through examples of our painting, poetry, music, dance, plays, novels, essays, etc. I also used my contacts in the poetry and music world to showcase what we ‘llanitos’ do and try to plant a seed in the mind of the British audiences so that they might consider our identity as something particular to Gibraltar rather than a mere extension of the remnants of an empire.

The results have been compelling. I have been amazed at how many stereotypes can be questioned through art. I also realized England and its people don’t really know us. They see us through the lens of politics and history but have no idea about how we feel, eat, live or dream. Art can help us explain ourselves to the world and being in the world has helped me add my miniscule grain of sand in this respect.

I have also liaised with other Gibraltarian artists who live in the UK, especially novelist MG Sanchez. Together we explore themes concerning the intrinsic shape of Gibraltarian identity through writing and I am excited to showcase Gibraltar through art in an event we are celebrating at The Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington London on the 5th September. 

Q: Looking back on nearly a year of cultural events how would you explain your stewardship and contributions to a future incumbent.

Bringing a talented array of UK musicians to experience Gibraltarian culture and collaborating with them in a show at the Inces Hall in April 2022 has been one of the highlights of this year of stewardship. Throughout the year I have enjoyed a tight collaboration with Gibraltar Cultural Services and this has been fundamental. The bond has proven to me that a close working relationship between artists and cultural institutions is vital when it comes to investigating and celebrating culture. I hope I can inspire future incumbents to keep on exploring our identity through art and to showcase what Gibraltarian culture is really about. Not only on the Rock but also in the UK, Spain and beyond. 

Have you enjoyed the stewardship and has it enriched your links with your expatriate community any more than what you thought when you were chosen.

I have enjoyed this stewardship immensely and I have found it has made me grow as an artist and made me realise that all my poetic and musical output is closely linked to my identity as a Gibraltarian. I have also got closer to expat artists and have discovered a new way of collaborating with my hometown which I have not even envisaged. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to investigate my ties with my own roots and what they mean to other writers, singers, painters, dancers and artists. 

Q: You live in a major cultural hub capital and work in culture professionally …has that in any way helped you with your initiatives or does the direction come from GCS over here and you implement them over there.

I have been lucky to work with Gibraltar Cultural Services in devising a one-off Cultural Soiree. My experience running events in London has been useful to both conceive and produce this event but Davina Barbara and the whole GCS team have been pivotal in providing the infrastructure for the event to work. I want to thank Seamus Byrne, Tasmin Griffith, Edward Dove and the whole team for that.

Q: Is it too soon to evaluate your artistic contribution yourself or would you rather read about what someone thought about your contribution after your year as ambassador has ended.

I would rather that others speak benevolently or condemn my actions and words as Cultural Ambassador or as a human being in general. One must take praise and criticism with an equal pinch of salt or smoked paprika if you prefer. To my mind you should question your effort more than your results and be at peace with the idea that when it comes to culture and art, we are all novices and apprentices. Culture and art are intrinsically complex things and they bring about more questions than answers. The beauty is in the voyage of discovery and I am definitely proud to have sailed in those winds. I hope that we all sail together in a similar direction to continue the search.

Q: You have been an educator (and in a way still are one)… has your work with local children inspired you and enabled you to make a judgement call about how we rank and how we are developing as a cultured community.

Working with children in Gibraltar was inspiring. I led some workshops both as a poet and as a musician and the results were uplifting. The experience confirmed what I already suspected: Gibraltar is a perfect place for artistic expression. If we lead our children to the vast pool of diverse influences and cultural roots available on the Rock, we could create incredibly unique artists.

We have the Mediterranean, the English Language, Africa, Spain and our specific identity which can be the engine for true, unique and genuine art. Children teach us what the future will look like and it seems to me it looks fine in terms of art. My only worry is that we lose our bond to the Mediterranean world and the Spanish language which seems to be a treasure trove when it comes to possibilities and techniques for artistic expression. I hope the youth investigate art beyond performative Britishness and find their own ways of singing, writing, painting, skating, dancing and performing – the ‘Llanito way.