Feature - page 46

”We have done so much since then, we have so much still to do.”

The Hon. Fabian Picardo QC, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, talks exclusively to Jo Ward on his 10th anniversary as leader of the GSLP, looking back on the past as well as forward to his future as head of the Government of Gibraltar. 

“I can tell you that I have a barometer of my time in Government, my son is nine years old, my wife got pregnant just after I had become leader of the party and just after we were married, and so I have a living barometer that reminds me of how long I have been in Government – and from a clump of cells to a champion nine year old footballer – my goodness we have come a long way,” the Chief Minister proudly states.

“One of the reasons that I think people fall out of love with politicians is if politicians pretend that they can resolve every problem and that is when you fall short,” the Chief Minister comments. “I think that we have ensured that we haven’t done that – we have been realistic in what we have said but sometimes people don’t hear what we say, they hear what they would like us to have said – but we have been very careful and diligent in ensuring that we have dealt with problems in the order of priority in which they manifest themselves.”

“Lawyer. Husband. Proud father of TWO beautiful boys & a gorgeous little girl” proclaims Fabian Picardo’s Twitter profile, highlighting his personal achievements. However, it is the unexpected events of the past year and a half that have had a huge impact on both his personal and political life. 

“The past year has been a life sucking, mind numbing, horrible experience, for everyone I think,” he says.  

“Remember that it is true that whilst others were locked down in effect by the Government, some people were spending more time at home than ever, but I was probably spending less time at home than usual. For me it was a little surreal and I have lived it in a different way to the way most people have lived these successive lockdowns and the difficulties that we have had.”

Images come to mind of the Chief Minister holding video conferences with other world leaders whilst smartly attired on the top half of his body but wearing pyjama bottoms are quickly dispelled. “I confess to having done something for my old college Gaudy where I appeared to be wearing the decent part of black tie – but it was early September and it is too hot here to wear trousers then,” he laughs. With a busy household and three children, how did he cope with home schooling? “My wife Justine and I employ a fantastic, lifesaving nanny for our children who is like the third parent in the home and without Sarah we would have found it almost impossible to continue with our obligations and our duties in this period.”

Back to a time when nobody knew there would be a coronavirus pandemic, the Government of Gibraltar were focused on other things. “We had just come out of a general election and we were looking at the possibility of Brexit towards the end of 2019 – that was put off for a shorter period and we were really working towards ensuring that we had our post Brexit arrangements finalised in time for the United Kingdom’s de jure departure from the European Union, but pandemic history got in the way,” the Chief Minister explains. 

On 31st December 2020, the UK and Spain announced an agreement in principle under which Gibraltar would join the EU’s Schengen Area, but the Chief Minister states that he had already been looking at the possibility of Gibraltar forming part of or entering into an arrangement with Schengen as far back as 2014 when Danny Alexander, then the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, came to Gibraltar. “I had also met with Cecilia Malmström who was then the Commissioner with responsibility for Immigration in the European Union and she had said that she saw the possibilities for Gibraltar to have a different sort of relationship to Schengen than the one that we have had until now.”

The Chief Minister explains that he had said at the time that if they are looking at Schengen they needed to consider what sort of relationship they would have with the Customs Union going forward. “It wasn’t however until last year – just before the pandemic hit – and I had said in the context of the negotiation on the future relationship with the European Union that we needed to consider the possibility of making a final decision which would be a decision for Gibraltar, for the United Kingdom, for Spain and for the European Union about changing Gibraltar’s relationship with the EU on immigration matters.”

After days of intense discussions and with just hours to go, the Chief Minister was able to announce in his New Year’s Eve Statement to Parliament that an Agreement had been reached regarding Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU. The framework agreement opens the door to a treaty that could see Gibraltar become part of the Schengen area, effectively suppressing immigration controls at the border.

“Since then the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary Dominic Raab has been to Gibraltar and Gibraltar and the UK have agreed our mandate in a joint ministerial conference on how it is that we will negotiate this Treaty with the European Union, and the European Union and Spain in particular are considering how they will set out their mandate for the negotiation,” the Chief Minister says. “Once those two mandates have been published – until now only ours has been – we will see the start of the negotiations which I think can actually move with quite a bit of alacrity because a lot of the difficult balancing work has been done in the negotiation between Gibraltar, Spain and the United Kingdom.”

Moving on to talk about COVID-19 and the fact that Gibraltar has been held up as a beacon of hope on the world stage, the Chief Minister says that the reality is that it is only as a result of the United Kingdom having done such an excellent job in backing different vaccination projects and therefore being at the front of the queue to receive the product, that Gibraltar has been able to access the doses that have been needed to inoculate all the residents of Gibraltar and cross frontier workers.

“We would not have been able to access the vaccines otherwise so we have to thank the United Kingdom for providing the vaccines and we have to recognise the magnificent work that has been done by the Gibraltar Health Authority led by Minister Samantha Sacramento, but also in particular by those who were involved in the vaccination programme itself which enabled us to ensure that the vaccines we were provided were not sitting in a fridge at minus 70 degrees, but that they were getting jabbed into the arms of those who were – in keeping with the priorities set out by the UK JCVI (The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) – the ones who should have been receiving the vaccine as soon as possible, and that work has really been remarkable.”

The Chief Minister went on to praise the work done by so many people, from the highest echelons of the British Government from the level of the Prime Minister, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Minister for Health Matt Hancock, through to the Minister for Defence and the Armed Forces who ensured that the RAF would fly the vaccines in which couldn’t be flown in by commercial aircraft because of the dry ice required to pack them in. 

“We must also thank the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Gibraltar Regiment who escorted our precious cargo of vaccines and the GHA staff that jabbed it into the arms of our citizens, this is their success and I will be very keen at every stage not to attribute to myself any credit for it because it is the success of all those who were involved in the supply chain and then in the inoculation process that we today can enjoy what post-pandemic life may feel like in the rest of the world in the future, subject of course to the fact that we may have to go through all this again in the Autumn with booster shots and depending on variants of concern, but at least this is precious breathing space that we can thank all of them for.”

On the afternoon of the day we spoke, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed Parliament about the new Indian variant and said that “it is still just a variant under investigation, not a variant of concern.” There are of course a lot of people in Gibraltar who have family relationships in the sub-continent and in this respect the Chief Minister went on to state that Gibraltar was adding India to the list of red countries where individuals will need to report, quarantine and test if they arrive in Gibraltar having been there in the last fourteen or twenty-one days. “I hope that we will soon be able to have a better understanding of what that variant means and whether we will be able to inoculate against it or whether our existing inoculation will protect us against it.” He added that he wants to ensure that India is maintained on a red list for as short a period as is absolutely necessary so that people can travel to and from their families in India as soon as possible.”

Part of the Government’s mandate was to deliver a greener Gibraltar and a child friendly city, but this hasn’t been without hiccups and public opinion has in certain cases made them change some of the planned projects. In July last year the Government released its plans for the beautification of Line Wall Road, to include a one-way traffic system, cycle lanes, green areas and promenades. “I said during the course of my New Year’s Eve address that I think we got that wrong, I don’t think there was a public appetite for the pedestrianisation of Line Wall Road,” the Chief Minister comments. 

“I have also made clear that our manifesto was designed to be delivered post-Brexit but that it was not designed to be delivered post a pandemic like the one that we have seen, and it is very likely that we unfortunately will not be able to deliver the most ambitious projects that are set out in our manifesto.”

Stating that the public finances of Gibraltar have been gutted by the pandemic in the same way that the public finances of most nations in the world have, the Chief Minister says that a lot of what the Government had wanted to do will not go ahead yet. “I hope that people will understand that because we have wanted to prioritise what we need to do over what we would like to do – it doesn’t mean that we are abandoning what we would like to do, but we do recognise that we have an obligation to do what we must in the context of the provision of health care, education and all of the basics, and when we have less money available we have got to ensure that we cover those before we move on to our other priorities.”

As part of the Government’s continuing policy to provide affordable housing for the people of Gibraltar, the Chief Minister said in July 2019: “When we build affordable homes, we are laying the foundations for building more Gibraltarian families. These are the building blocks of the longevity and strength of our nation’s future.”

“The number of homes that we are building both for sale as well as rental in our new developments is unprecedented and these are a set of projects that we consider to be essential,” he comments. “Hassan Centenary Terraces is already underway and a second phase will commence as soon as we have been able to clear the rubble from that area, and Chatham Views will start as soon as we have fully demolished West Side School.” Now that the new LNG power station has been commissioned the Chief Minister confirms that: “as soon as the old power station which used to run on grimy, smelly diesel has been decommissioned and is gone we will be able to see the building of Bob Peliza Terraces.” The Chief Minister confirmed that contracts are already being signed for the proposed developments at Hassan Centenary Terraces, Bob Peliza Mews and Chatham Views.

“We will be able to deliver those additional 2,400 units of affordable housing in the time that we expected that we would.”

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the tourism industry worldwide, but Gibraltar has been particularly hard hit as the Rock relies on the tourists that come through by car, air and by cruise ships with many companies that depend on the revenue from tourism, such as the hospitality and catering industry, suffering the most. Asked how Gibraltar will bounce back, the Chief Minister says that one of the things that he is very hopeful about is that Gibraltar will be on the green corridor with the United Kingdom. “Gibraltar is likely to be one of the very few European Jurisdictions to which British travellers will be able to come to without having to quarantine when they return to the United Kingdom,” he says. “If that is the case, and that of course is not a decision for us, it is a decision for the UK Government and we have to respect their autonomy to make the decisions that they consider to be safe for the people of the UK, then I think Gibraltar is very well placed to receive an influx of tourism this summer from the UK and I think they will like what they find in the refreshed Gibraltar that we have to present to them, and will therefore potentially be a source of returning visitors for many years to come.”

“Gibraltar is constantly being referred to in the media as the safest jurisdiction for Britons in Europe and I look forward to welcoming many of my British kith and kin to Gibraltar.”

The life of the Chief Minister is a constantly busy one but there has to be some kind of work/life balance and his ongoing fitness regime, including his daily cycle rides up the Rock, is well documented in the social media posts of Fabian Picardo often accompanied by some truly stunning early morning images. “I recognise I fell off the saddle over the second lockdown a little, the weather was awful and I couldn’t get up the Rock and that was as bad for my head as it was for my heart,” he comments. “Cycling up the Rock of Gibraltar has helped me in my mental health as much as it has helped me in my COVID and physical health – so I recommend to everyone that they should consider the possibility.”

Justly proud of Gibraltar, the Chief Minister’s message to inspire future generations of Gibraltar is that it is probably the most manageable quantity on the planet. “If Barrack Obama at the height of his powers had announced that he was injecting 100 million dollars into the economy of the United States that would represent barely 50 cents for every American, and if the Chief Minister of Gibraltar is enable to announce an investment of 100 million pounds on projects in the lifetime of one Parliament, then the effect on the daily lives of Gibraltarians is huge.”

The Chief Minister’s view is that Gibraltar is an oasis in what is otherwise a very cruel and difficult world. “I would simply ask my fellow citizens to spend some time reflecting on what life is like for citizens of other nations, particularly those nations around us – we live on the shores of the Mediterranean, we live on the southernmost flank of Europe and if anybody were to reflect for a moment how difficult life is everywhere else on the shores of the Mediterranean and in particular the southernmost flank of Europe and the northernmost flank of Africa, I think an appreciation of how well we have it in Gibraltar is long overdue and long merited and would inspire people of all political complexions in Gibraltar to appreciate a little more what we have and to protect it.”

When I interviewed the Chief Minister back in 2014, in response to a quote from the opposition at the time which said that: “Mr Picardo must get his priorities right and spend less time and money on parks and vanity projects and address Gibraltar’s energy needs” he said “I think it is a bit rich for those who have caused the problem to ask me to resolve it with a magic wand – I am no Harry Potter – I have never pretended to be.” Asked if he had managed to wave his magic wand in the interim years since those quotes, he replies: “Well there is no magic wand to wave but there is now a new power station which runs exclusively on LNG, a non-polluting fossil fuel, and we are ensuring that we can add renewable sources of energy to our grid and we have also added a lot of solar since then, so I think we have demonstrated that although we might not have been able to deliver things in the time that we might have expected because there might have been necessary delays along the way – you need to make sure that you get it just right.” 

“But I would say to the many, many ‘Draco Malfoys’ and to ‘He Who Must Not be Named” who oppose us politically that we will keep going and that we will show everyone in Gibraltar all the little things that they tried to hide in their Chamber of Secrets!”

Still relatively young for a politician, he turns 50 next year, how does the Chief Minister see his future panning out? “One of the key issues to understand is that the pandemic has deprived us of the first half of the lifetime of this Parliament and to understand therefore that the mandate that we took from the public in 2019 is not a mandate that we can fulfil, but that because of the pandemic and because of the Brexit negotiations we have an obligation to see this Parliament through.”

 “I said I would stand for election on three occasions, and I think I need to review that and in conversations with my family consider whether I should go forward to a potential fourth term – and if my party wishes me to lead it into its fourth potential election victory, if the public were to give us their support then and subject to all those caveats I am very clear that circumstances have conspired against me to require me to take very seriously the possibility of asking the public once again for their support.”

Based on
“Standing Orders in the Garrison of Gibraltar 1803”

Most of us of a certain age will remember the ridiculous lengths to which we were made to go in preparing our beds, boots and equipment for inspection to please overzealous, tradition bound officers and NCO’s in the Gibraltar Defence Force, now The Royal Gibraltar Regiment. Many evenings were spent in burnishing our boot toecaps into mirrors and polishing our cap badges, buttons and brasses, only to be criticizes by some little napoleon for having a spot on the webbing, or a blanket not quite folded to the correct thickness.

BUT, if you think this was ridiculous give a thought to our predecessors in the same boat. 

In the barracks, each room was approximately 18 x 36 feet and would accommodate nineteen man. Lack of space in some cases made it necessary to provide folding beds. In this area the men would also eat their meals and spend their off duty time when not in town.

Each man would be issued with a straw mattress, a box for his personal articles. Wooden tables, benches, a stove and wood would complete the barrack room. His personal uniform and accoutrements are listed below.    

Following are some of the “Standing Orders“ in the Garrison of Gibraltar in 1803 during the Governorship of the Duke of Kent. 

Every NCO, Drummer and Private is to rise at latest, at half past three in the Summer months and half past four in the Spring and half past five in the Winter when a long roll is to beat at the front door of every barracks, at which time they are immediately to commence folding up their beds, according to the following mode. The bolster (pillow) laid at the bottom of the flock mattress, which is to be doubled over twice, so as to make it lay in three folds with the bolster in the centre; the sheets, blankets and rug to be once doubled from the length, and then turned together in three folds also, the sheets to be first laid on the bed, the blankets on the sheets and the rug on the blankets; at the same time the berths (area around the bed) or platforms (wooden plank beds) are to be swept perfectly clean.

At the hour established for breakfast, the quartermaster is directed to visit the rooms and see that they are clean, and the beds folded up as ordered for the first morning inspection, and cleaned, the caps of the NCOs and men hung upon the pegs fixed up for the purpose, the accoutrements on the racks, with the bayonet belts, the arms neatly and uniformly upon the racks, with the cocks let down and good flints in them, the name of every man and the number of his arms written on a card and placed on the top of the arms exactly over the owner’s firelock, the greatcoat neatly rolled up, and with the knapsack hung over the berth or platform.

At one and a half hours before the evening gun, the whole, except for the sick, and half of the attendants on them, will parade in open column of Companies with their arms, accoutrements, greatcoats and knapsacks, when the Commanding Officer of Companies are to minutely examine the state and number of every Sergeant’s pike, sword and sword belt; the flintlock, bayonet, ramrod, pouch, pouch belt, bayonet belt, frog (the bayonet scabbard) and sling of every Rank and File; the drums, swords, sword belts and slings of the Drummers; the fifes, fife cases, swords, belts and slings of the Fifers and the hatchets, saws, aprons and slings of the Pioneers; and see that the whole of each man’s arms and accoutrement are marked with the Company’s letter and that the whole set has the same number, that every man has his own, and that none of the marks and numbers are defaced.

DIRECTIONS FOR CUTTING THE HAIR

The top or brush to be cut as close as the scissors can catch it, allowing the comb between that and the head; the under part immediately behind the ear to be left somewhat longer so as, when rubbed up with soap and grease and combed upwards, to look as if it was frizzed after being turned with a small curling iron. The hind hair is to be parted from the brush with a string passed from ear to ear, vertically over the top of the head. Every part of the hair that comes behind the string being combed back so as to go into the queue, that which comes before forming the brush. No whiskers to be allowed of but for Drum Majors and Pioneers, but the beard to be always shaved up to the top of the ear; where the side hair is to be left perfectly square and level with the corner of the eye. No part of the beard below the top of the ear or in the neck to be permitted to grow.

NB. The top hair is to be regularly cut in the first week of every month by one established Hair Dresser.

DRESSING THE HAIR.                                                                                   

In order to prepare the hair to receive the queue, it is first to be moderately thickened with powder and grease, both well combed into the roots; a small pad or cushion covered with black sheepskin and stuffed with bran, about two inches and a half in length and of thickness proportionable to the man’s hair, (known by soldiers as a mouse) is next to be placed inside, above the tie, so as to make it appear full and round, without spreading it too much, and in order to prevent it from splitting; but this is on no account to be placed so high as to touch the head, as that would occasion the queue to stand off from it, or make it bag at the tie, which are the two greatest faults that can be found in any soldier’s head dress. After this, the hair is to be tied exactly level with bottom of the stock and particular care must be taken that the tie sets close to the neck; the top hair is then well rubbed up with soap, flour and grease and combed from the ears straight upwards, so as to have the appearance as if turned by curling irons, the back hair is next to be covered with soap lather, well beat up with flour in a box, until it becomes a stiff paste which is laid on with a small brush (commonly called by House Painter, a Sash Tool), and then regularly and neatly marked with a comb the teeth of which should be about ten to the inch, each mark coming directly down from the crown, where the hind hair is parted off from the top to the tie, after which the whole hair is to be lightly powdered with a thread or cotton puff until it is perfectly white; but not so as to fill up the marks of the comb. When this is done, all loose powder that has not attached itself to the paste where it is directed to be laid on the hind hair is to be blown off so that none may by chance fall on the clothes. The queue which is to be made to receive the whole of the man’s hair and to cover the string with which it is tied, is to be fixed on so that, when the man has his coat on, the queue may be even with the lower row of lace on the collar, and lastly the flash is to be fixed on so as to cover the top of the queue. 

FOR THE UNDRESS

The hair is to be done according to the foregoing directions, except that the soap, lather and powder are to be altogether omitted and no part to show at all  white; the marks of the comb which is used for combing the hair, to be left without being smoothed down, although the marking comb is not to be used

The Duke of Kent preserved hair powder and queues for those under his command until much later, even though the practice had been abolished in 1808. As Governor of Gibraltar, he issued a series of orders that- 

” The first person who boarded every ship coming into the harbour was his Royal Highness’s hairdresser, and no officer was allowed to land until he had submitted his head to be operated on by this functionary. On the top it was to be cut into a horseshoe form; a string put round the ear and held in the mouth decided the termination of the whiskers”

Cyber criminals are as the name suggests criminals. Criminal activity by its very nature just happens to be illegal, and if the perpetrator is caught is likely to result in prosecution and detainment at the pleasure of a government somewhere.

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Clearly this is not an attractive option for a criminal. So, to avoid this cyber-criminals are extremely careful not to get caught. The anonymity that the internet provides is one aspect that can assist the “not getting caught.” The other, more effective method is to avoid detection altogether, cover your tracks and leave no trace, so that you have no idea that you or your business may have been attacked and may have something stolen. 

But if a cyber-criminal steals something of ours, we will know. Right? Will you? In the good old days, before computers and devices, our world was dominated by tangible, physical things. It was there, present, in our hands, at our fingertips. You would know whether a thing was present or missing. We now live in an increasing digital environment, with more things becoming virtual. We used to buy music on vinyl and CDs, now we stream music. We used to hold paper files in filing cabinets, now they are digital files stored on hard-drives and servers. These former tangible assets are now virtual, digital data files. If a cyber-criminal has the access, data files can be copied and stolen, and unless you are looking for it, chances are you will never know.

So what? How does this affect me? Well, if you happen to be reading this and are sitting there thinking: we are ok, we have not been attacked, I would know. Ask yourself, are you sure? How do you know? Do you have systems and processes for detecting the theft of information? Remember anti-malware looks for malware and viruses, not unfettered access. If your network has inherent design flaws, a cyber-criminal can quite literally digitally “waltz in” have a good look around and take any information that is not secured.

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How often, if at all, are your log files analysed to identified: who has accessed your network, or what information has left? Would you know? Are you resourced to do this? Do you keep log files? At what point to they get overwritten? Do you even know what log files are? If not, I would suggest you ask these questions to your IT support, or get some support. To be helpful, log files are simply a log of events that have occurred, which can be analysed to understand activity or an incident. They can also be erased and amended.

Businesses are targeted by multiple cyber criminals every day. Each criminal will have their own motivations and level of competency. Some will want an instant payday perhaps through the diversion of a financial payment as part of a phishing or man-in-the-middle scam. Others, the “All-Stars” of cyber criminals may just view you as an access point, the soft underbelly as part of an elaborate strategy to target a bigger, more valuable fish – your owners; your clients; a bigger, more prominent business you supply to. Cyber criminals are interested in the personal data you hold on individuals, or the “trusted” digital connections you have with their “next” intended target, or access point. They can use information/connections to unlock the next part of the puzzle or move onto the next phase. All of this can happen unwittingly, and you can provide the information and connections they need without even realising or detecting that it is happening.

As a business, we often hear: “We don’t see this as a problem;” “We have not experienced a cyber-attack;” “We just don’t hear about this happening.” The reason for this could be because you are one of the fortunate ones that has not be targeted or suffered an attacked. Or it could be because the cyber-criminal is extremely proficient at their trade, and while you may not have experienced a direct cyber-attack, you may have unknowingly breached information or facilitated an attack that has occurred elsewhere.

All businesses must remember that under UK / EU GDPR and similar international data protection regulation, you are obligated under the Confidentiality and Integrity (Security) principle to implement appropriate organisational and technical controls to protect the personal data that you hold. When the true end goal of the cyber criminal’s strategy reveals itself and forensic analysis of the attack is conducted, could it reveal that your business breached the information that enable the attack to occur because of insufficient organisational and technical controls. Would you be willing to accept this risk and consequences for your business?

So even though you may not believe you have suffered a direct cyber-attack, are you certain that you may not have been a victim of a cyber-attack? Good to trust, better to check.

Michael Wills is co-founder and chief data officer for CSS Platinum. For further information on the company and the services it provides to Gibraltar businesses and the international yachting industry, please visit
https://cssplatinum.com and/or email support@cssplatinum.com.

Do you listen to the birds?  It is springtime and the birds are chirruping merrily all day long at the moment.  Mostly, of course, in the early morning when they welcome the new day and if you are one of those early awake beings then remember to listen out for them.  They share such joy with us and the different tones and sounds, made by the different species, are tuning in with the vibrational energies they feel all around and conveying powerful messages which we will understand if we will but still ourselves and listen with our hearts.

This last year of transition has given us the opportunity to go deep within and listen to ourselves on a whole new level. I enjoy playing with words and finding meanings within meanings and one example of this is my chosen view of what we could glean from the word ‘lockdown’.  What we could do with this period and how we could grow during it if we were to look at it from a different perspective.  So, I turned it into its opposite and found that it was really a period to ‘open up’.  This sat much more comfortably with my approach to things and I found it an extremely useful tool to help clients and friends navigate the way forward and find joy and inspiration during a period in which they could otherwise have felt disempowered and afraid. 

Many people who, previously, were too busy in the 3D world of busyness and perceived scarcity found themselves discovering great depths of richness within.   Depths of wisdom, of emotional awareness and a recognised need to express love and appreciate the gift of life. The time to actually listen and hear each other and the (sometimes reluctant) acceptance of their spiritual essence.

Of course, many people already walking their spiritual path were able to step forward and embrace the opportunity to express themselves more confidently knowing that they had something crucial to share with those around them struggling with fear and the loss of their everyday securities.

Most of us grew up with the understanding that we all have a ‘guardian angel’. Different religions teach this concept and it certainly offers a comforting sense of security.  Naturally, as children grow and begin to question life and beliefs, many reject the idea of having such a being watching over them.   Youth’s energy, so often powered by ego, tends to think it knows best and that any such belief is for children or the weak minded. Most of us eventually come back, in some form, to an acceptance of ourselves as spiritual energies and choose to study, research and learn to pay attention to the many signs and messages that come to us which cannot be explained away by any scientific method.

Back to the birds (I can hear them outside my window as I type).   I believe that we are all creations of the Divine Source.  Just as are the flowers and the trees, the birds and the bees. I find it interesting how we love and exclaim over the perfection of nature and yet we decry ourselves on a daily basis.   Think of when you see the first spring flowers appearing.  Don’t you feel something resonate within you?   Sometimes we feel emotion literally welling up at the beauty of this little thing shooting up yet again, embracing the sun and the new life it is emerging into.   We note the perfection of the petals and the miracle we are witnessing and we would never, ever, notice a misshapen petal or a slight imperfection in the colour.  Never.  And yet we do it with ourselves on a daily basis.  Many, many times over. 

Then there is Self talk.   Do you speak nicely to yourself? Do you exclaim about the wonder of you in the same way as you exclaim about the wonder of the primrose or the crocus?  Think on this:

“You will never speak to anyone as much as you speak to yourself in your head.  So be kind to yourself”.

By ‘opening up’ instead of ‘locking down’ we have been given the opportunity to leave old habits behind and grab the opportunity to create new and healthy ones. Thus, you can usher in new and better practices which can improve your life and take you forward in a new direction.

Discover the deep connection you share with wisdom, good judgement and knowledge.  Sharpen your inner vision and your observation.  And remember that you also possess insight and intuition and that you can learn to see beyond the masks that people wear. You can crack through the façade and determine which people have the most noble intentions from those who have not yet recognised their inner light. 

This is a period of change and transition that we are living through and, I believe, there are angels all around us helping us to pick our way through and to remain connected to the one body of consciousness.  We are all pinheads of light on that one body of consciousness and we must learn to recognise our perfection, our light and the perfection and light in others.  Even when they don’t recognise it in themselves. 

We are all familiar with references to angels.   Referring to certain people as angels or glibly saying. “Oh, my guardian angel must have been looking out for me then!”

So, next time you find this feeling slipping out of your mouth, stop, close your mouth and hold the feeling.  Take a gentle breath in and out through your nose and softly ask your guardian angel for a sign.  It will come. 

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). 

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

Think of Unicorns this month Aries, of the Full Moon and of freedom!  Someone close is ready to spread their wings and you must expand your heart to send then forth with love and trust. Your divine energy connection covers any and all distances. 

TAURUS Apr 21 – May 21) 

You are being reminded to stay balanced this month, Taurus. Speak your truth confidently and do not be swayed by the fears and opinions of others. Keep your heart pure and light and understand that doing so can help people see their situation from a balanced perspective. 

GEMINI (May 22 – Jun 22) 

You can be joyful and trusting that events will unfold to your liking this month, Gemini. Sometimes you put a shell-like protection around yourself and shut others out and you are being guided to drop that for now and listen to their ideas and suggestions. 

CANCER (Jun 23 – Jul 22)

Cancer…. This is the time to step into your magnificence! Stop hiding your light under a bushel and pluck up the confidence to be seen and heard! You have a voice you have a story to sing and you have information to share.  And the world wants to hear it. Beautiful!

LEO (Jul 23 – Aug 23) 

The times they are a changin’ Leo and you gotta be prepared! People look to you for leadership and so, at this time, you must watch your thoughts carefully. Make sure that they are only positive and wholesome and that your intentions are clear and for the good of all

VIRGO (Aug 24 – Sep 23)

You are being reminded to not overthink and to look at your troubles in a lighthearted way.   This is not to minimize the challenges but to keep a clear perspective and to remain centered. In turn this will enable to rise above the past and to create a positive and love filled future.   

LIBRA (Sep 24 – Oct 23) 

You have been feeling overwhelmed by the energies around us all Libra.   You are the expert in seeing both sides of a situation but, at the moment, you are struggling to do so. So simply breathe gently yet deeply into your souls and connect with your inner light.  That’s all you have to do and your vibration will rise.

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 22) 

You can and should dare to be different this month, Scorpio.  Embrace your uniqueness and be prepared to be the harbinger of change in your family and intimate social circle.  Be clear on what is for your own highest good that when it truly is then so it is for the whole Universe.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 – Dec 21) 

You must set very clear boundaries this month, Sagittarius.  And then you must enforce them.   People and situations have been taking advantage of your warm heart and of your positive energy and this needs to be addressed. Tactfully and gently but very clearly. 

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 20) 

I know you are really not in the mood to hear this Capricorn, but teamwork is the only way this month.  To avoid endless frustration and disappointing results you must go with the maxim that, Together Everyone Achieves More! Trust me – it will work.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21 – Feb 19) 

Be true to yourself, Aquarius, and the Universe will reward you. When you act with the noblest of intentions you may still be misunderstood as there will always be those who want to extinguish the light in others.  Don’t worry .. keep holding your vision and shine your light.

PISCES (Feb 20 – Mar 20) 

This is a good time to take a look at how you have your physical and spiritual life balanced, Pisces.   Do you have your feet firmly planted on the ground while being fully aware of your life purpose and spiritual energy? They support each other so be sure to nurture both.

‘MAGIK’ was born out of the efforts of two experienced musicians: guitarist/producer Manolo Arias (Ñu, Niagara, Atlas, Arias – Barón Rojo, Iguana Tango, etc.) and British Gibraltarian vocalist Giles Keith Ramirez (H.O.T., Ghost, Reach). After a friendship of nearly 30 years, the opportunity to work together had not yet presented itself until now. From this collaboration came the idea to publish on a monthly basis, a string of cover tracks under the title of “Covers in Isolation”.  Ideally this project aims to offer their particular vision of Rock classics from the 60’s and 70’s. They give the classics their own personal touch, hence adapting these hits to their own musical criteria.

The idea flourished during lockdown, when Giles had been performing and sharing some classic covers through social media. For that same reason, the global pandemic, Guitarist /producer Manolo Arias found himself having to postpone his main work on “No estoy para nadie” and he came up with the idea that it was then the right moment to unite forces with Giles Ramirez and record twelve classics which they will be offering as single releases on a monthly basis. These singles are a pre-cursor to an album of original songs which will follow.

Manolo Arias analyses his choice of the third track for ‘Covers in Isolation,’ Peter Frampton’s iconic ‘Show Me the Way’: “There are certain songs which in one way or another become a part of one’s own history. ‘Show Me the Way’ is one of them. You could say that in my case it was love at first hearing. I also discovered (in Frampton) one of the best guitarists I had heard in my life.”

 For this their third single, ‘MAGIK’ have the collaboration of prestigious vocalist Danny Vaughn who has been a part of such bands such as Waysted, Tyketto, Vaughn, Ultimate Eagles and Danny Vaughn’s Myths, Legends & Lies. Danny and Giles first met during a concert at the London O2 Arena when their respective bands, Tyketto and Ghost recorded the ‘Gods of AOR’ in 1994 for MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. 

Years later they met again in Gibraltar, where their great friendship saw them teaming up on a project they called ‘Harmony Street’, which took them on a small tour of Spain as a duet, performing classic covers on acoustic. When Giles and Arias decide to embark on MAGIK, the opportunity of having Danny Vaughn collaborate with them came up on ‘Show Me the Way.’ MAGIK now offer us their own vision of this emblematic song, 45 years after the worldwide hit achieved by Peter Frampton with ‘Show Me the Way’ in 1976 as the main single from his live album ‘Frampton Comes Alive.’

Their treatment gives the song a new urgency and brings with it an edgy and infectious performance which makes compelling listening. I had just come off my headphones and I caught up with Giles to glean some more information on his exciting project.

I have to say that I was impressed with what I had just heard.

“We now have three singles released and on the latest one ‘Show me the Way’ we decided to guest vocalist Danny Vaughn from American band ‘Tyketto’, as we both share a great friendship and I have worked with him in the past. Danny was really keen to collaborate for ‘Magik’. We thought it would be a great idea to also guest a few other well known vocalists for this project and so far I have had a great response. They will be singing in future singles this year”. 

What is the Magik project exactly…

“This is a twelve song, one single per month project covering classic 60’s and 70’s songs and once this is achieved, we shall be releasing an original album under the ‘Magik’ banner too. Recordings for the album are well underway with great names too. The bassist we have featured in one of our originals is Billy Sheehan (David Lee Roth, Mr Big, Sons of Apollo, Winery Dogs, Talas) so that is exciting.”  

I complemented Giles on the dazzling guitar work on their latest single Show Me the Way’ as it turns out that he is Spanish Rock royalty…

 “Indeed Manolo Arias is an exceptional guitarist with miles of experience under his belt playing for the top Rock bands in Spain and producing such bands as Baron Rojo, Niagara, Atlas and ÑU. He arranged and recorded all the tracks in Madrid and sent them to me digitally so I could record the vocals at home in my studio. I then recorded the vocal arrangements, including harmonies, ad-lib and melodies which I slightly changed to give them that extra Rock edge.” 

I wanted to know whether Magik as a band would be coming over to play here… 

“Oh yes for sure! We’re now putting the band together as we speak and there’s lots of interest from musicians. As soon as possible we will bring ‘Magic’ to perform here.” 

Even under current restrictions ‘Magik’ have been busy hence their generic album title ‘Covers in Isolation… 

“Since November last year we have now released three tracks which are, the ‘Doobie Brothers’ classic ‘Listen to the music’, America’s ‘Sister Golden Hair’ and the latest one ‘ Show me the Way’ the Peter Frampton classic. We have other great classics coming up. All our covers can be found on YouTube under MAGIK and all three singles are on sale on digital formats such as Itunes and Spotify etc. 

So to recap on the Magik project… 

“We still have nine more singles to be released (one per month) and we are already talking and planning collaborations with major Rock vocalists and a few top musicians too. The response has been overwhelming and mind blowing for us.  We can’t mention names just in case some are unable to commit at the last minute.”

The ‘MagiK’ original songs album will be released once the twelve classic cover tracks are completed and as Giles mentioned earlier, as soon as they can play live, they hope to be coming to play here “without a doubt.”  If their latest single is only a glimpse into what this band can do then we are really in for a treat when we get to see them live.

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Property Roundup

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

In light of the last 12 months, I think that we could have all done with a little less flavour, for what a year it has been. One might have thought that Brexit was quite enough to have had to contend with, but low and behold and just to make things that little bit more flavoursome, we were gifted with Covid-19 too. Recent times have delivered what is without question one of the greatest socio-political hurdles in a generation.

Having said the above, and not for the first time in Gibraltar’s history, we find ourselves fortunate in so many respects; but of course, in so far as the property market goes, we have been truly fortuitous. The fact is that 2020 brought with it some good news in the shape of the “New Year’s Agreement” with Spain and the UK, delivering a degree of certainty for Gibraltar’s political and economic status, something which, since 2016 we have lacked.

Over the past decade we have provided regular appraisals on our thoughts and forecasts on the property market. Since 2017 we have highlighted our concerns with the high volume of speculative developments steered by a “studio” segment delivering hundreds of these units to the market. We have also expressed our bullishness in the market on “owner occupier” properties within the mid to high end tiers of the market and the demand for these properties. This demand has in part, been steered by an expectation of a positive outcome with regard to Brexit, as well as real growth in the market driven by applicants seeking larger homes, in their quest to base themselves in a safe, English speaking, regulated, low tax environment. We seem to be cementing this attractive proposition toward the “ultimate residency” further.

As to the impact of forming part of the Schengen group may have on the property sector in Gibraltar, clearly the prospect of free movement with Spain under a safe political arena not seen in over three hundred years is an attractive and positive proposition, not least with a continued and underpinned financial services relationship with the UK; the future seems bright and we welcome the agreement. We will as always review and comment on the impact of this agreement, it clearly promises to deliver a bright future for Gibraltar with a degree of political security and economic stability not seen before.

What the future now holds is yet unknown, but a great deal of what we may expect can be forecasted based on our market performance so far and over the years we have produced various market updates, sharing our views and thoughts on the market. The following update was composed during the last few weeks of 2020, and has been updated further over recent months.

There is little one can say to try and sum up the happenings of the past year, let alone that of the past 4 years. Just when we thought that there could be nothing worse than the antics of Brexit, we are given the joys of Covid-19.

Thankfully, we seem to be reaching the light on both fronts and I am not sure that the globe, in general, is quite ready for any more surprises, I think we have had our fair share of these.

For several years since 2016 and since the emergence of Brexit we have kept a watchful eye on the property market (as we do) and analysed, as best we can, the impact of Brexit talks and negotiations on our property values and the confidence in general terms for our economy.

Given the calamities we have witnessed globally, at a political level (and for the record I miss The Donald), and economic level (and we ain’t seen the beginning of this in Europe in light of Covid), not to mention the mess we find ourselves in from a socio-economic perspective, you would not be blamed for just battening down the hatches, possibly buying a fishing boat and calling it a day… but as a client of ours put it recently:

“where the world is in crisis, Gibraltar excels”…

A bullish comment, but so accurate when it comes to the experience, we have had over the past 4 years and ironically enough over the past 10 months since March 2020. There is no question (and regardless of my banter), that we are and have been so incredibly fortunate, but to a larger degree so well placed and structured to have (in the main) done so well – and I am of course primarily referring to the property sector.

Against all the odds, we have seen price increases and sales volumes take a sharp rise throughout 2020 and as mentioned on so many occasions in previous updates, it has been the owner occupier markets, largely two-, three- and four-bedroom properties in mid to high end developments showing some truly spectacular gains with some increases in excess of 10%. The higher end and fourth tier in the market generally with price ranges upwards of £1,500,000 has also re-emerged with strong activity in this sector and sales in areas such as The Sanctuary (circa £6m), Buena Vista Park (average of £2.2m), Admirals Place and other.

Interestingly we have also been party to the sale of a two-bedroom apartment at Ragged Staff Wharf at £815,000 and four bedrooms in Quay 29 / 31 at upwards of £1m and delivering rates per sqm reaching £7,000 and beyond.

Without insight into circumstances surrounding us and an understanding of the dynamics of Gibraltar, the numbers are non-sensical and you may choose to take the view that this estate agent is quite frankly taking you for a ride….:)

Our view of the why’s and the how’s is best described along the lines of something we wrote some time ago: 

Our views over the years maintain a trend: growth in owner occupier driven markets steered by a continuously growing gaming and finance centre, with stability and security adding further value.

Whereas we have been pleasantly surprised with the growth in a large part of the property sector, we also continue to remain cautious and to a large degree negative on the studio market sector.

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We took a view to stay out of this segment several years ago due to the high volume of proposed developments exclusively aimed at this product. We struggled with the prices being pitched and the marriage to an identifiable end user. It appears that to date it is the only sector that in general terms has not enjoyed the growth in capital appreciation attained by much of the market.

We hope that with this recent write up we can give a small and educated snapshot of the market where we see the upsides, as well as the downsides. The market and the economy remain difficult to forecast, but if the year gone by (2020) and the time since the Brexit referendum is anything to go by, we have done swimmingly and held our own immensely well. 2021 will no doubt bring its challenges, but we hope that our ability to overcome this truly exceptional year will stand us in good stead to continue with our ever-growing economy and with it our property sector too.

As I write this, we have just closed a sale that has reached the £7,000/sqm mark, we

have achieved this level on more than several occasions now, we have indeed reached a new level that we believe is here to stay. As a great man once said – “it always seems impossible until it’s done”.

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Trusted Novus Bank – We want to be the homeowners’ bank in Gibraltar

A central point of Trusted Novus Bank (TN Bank) strategy since we became TN Bank nearly one year ago, is to become the homeowners’ bank in Gibraltar.

Buying your home?

In TN Bank we offer a competitive, personalised
product, which can be tailored to suit our
clients’ personal needs. No one-size-fits-all when taking a mortgage with us! We have a range of mortgage products to suit our clients’ individual needs. We look into our clients’ circumstances and together with our clients we identify the best product for them. You will not find our rates on our website, but we guarantee you that we have competitive prices.

We don’t just help people buying their first home or a new home. If you already have a mortgage but are not convinced you have the best package, we invite you to come and speak to us, to see if we can give you a better offer.

Perhaps lockdown made you realise that you want more space? Another reason to contact us to see if we can help you.

Buying the other half of your
50/50 home?

Are you missing out on not owning 100% of your property? If for example you live in Beach View Terraces, Mons Calpe Mews or other co-ownership properties and are considering purchasing the remaining amount of your home, then give us a call to discuss your options.

But don’t delay, act now, as it will cost you more every year that goes by!

Home Improvements

Has lockdown left you realising that it’s time
for a new kitchen or bathroom? Why not give us a call to discuss the possibilities of increasing your mortgage, or releasing some equity from
your property so that you can make your desired changes to improve your home? Please note that this is subject to affordability.

Buy-to-Let mortgages for
residential properties

Gibraltar has experienced prolonged growth and stability in the residential property market.
Rental demand in Gibraltar has increased
making it an attractive place for investors, both local and international, to purchase property for rental.

This type of mortgage is only available on
residential properties where the main purpose of the property is to rent it out and generate rental income. Our mortgage planners will be happy to chat with you about possible opportunities.

Here in TN Bank we take all mortgage and lending
requests seriously and if you wish, we can
arrange a meeting with one of our Mortgage Planners within a few days. If you prefer talking to us over the phone or make enquiries by email, we can accommodate that too. No matter what, we will make it clear to you, as our client, what the mortgage journey entails and how much the mortgage will cost you.

A new bank and a new team

The bank has offered mortgages for many years, but it was not until August 2019 that the mortgage team was established. Since then the team has had a clear focus on becoming the homeowners’ bank in Gibraltar. After becoming TN Bank in April 2020, we have had a focus on improving our mortgage services, and we have really seen things picking up during the last two or three months. Not only has our marketing become
focused on mortgages but we continue to
increase our product offerings.

Who are we?

There are four colleagues in our mortgage team at Trusted Novus Bank, who are keen to help you with your mortgage: Gerard Fabre, Vanessa Caulfield, Giovanni Romero and Morten S. Jensen,
who between them have over 100 years of
banking experience.

Give us a call, come into the bank or complete the contact form on our website

Personalised mortgages at Trusted Novus Bank:  https://trustednovusbank.gi/products/mortgages

We look forward to showing you what mortgage packages we can offer you.

Thinking of Letting, Renting, Selling or Buying?

Think
G M International Homes Ltd.

Primarily we specialise in the handling of sales and rentals of properties in Gibraltar and Spain and offer a full management letting service to assist our purchasers wishing to rent out their properties.

We are Gibraltar’s forward thinking estate agent, having formed long lasting relationships with our developers, friends and clients for over sixteen years.

We always strive to deliver. Our sales and after-sales team offer a professional, friendly honest and reliable service based on a culture of high standards and customer satisfaction. Teamwork is the key word. 

 Meet the team:  

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Jeanine Goldwin –
Managing Director

Founder and Managing Director, Jeanine started the company back in 2005. Jeanine is involved in every aspect of the business together with the financial side of the company and liaises with most of our high net worth individuals who are looking to relocate to Gibraltar. She is always the hardest worker in the room and highly considered as the ‘super woman’. Her favourite phrase is “no problem”, always making every challenge possible!

Jeanine is 100 % dedicated to running G M International and is always switched on where work is concerned; she enjoys long walks, keep-fit classes, spending time with her children and travelling whenever possible, always ready for the next adventure.

Vanessa Palmero Haywood – Managing Director

Vanessa joined GM International fifteen years’ ago in 2006 and says “time flies when you’re having fun”. Vanessa mainly assists Pia Alvarez with the very challenging daily management issues but she is very hands on and deals with any sales or rental enquiries. Vanessa loves the advertising side of the business and is always aware of the importance of advertising. She also takes a personal interest in giving back to the community by means of sponsorship and is passionate about charity work. 

Vanessa is a people person, friendly and approachable, however she loves and needs her time alone, especially with her furry best-friends. She travels whenever she can, particularly to her second home in Morocco, and due to her regular visits has made several professional network connections there. 

Pia Alvarez
Property Management
Administrator

Pia is our Property Management Administrator. She plays an essential part in the company and ensures all properties are ready for the next tenant, monitoring and inspecting them and taking accountability for the condition of all our properties. She promotes our management services and creates bonds with property owners and tenants. Pia loves lazy days on the beach, sporting   challenges and she’s a true animal lover, a dedicated wife and mother and a loyal friend to many. 

Lucy Martinez – Office Manager
and Compliance officer  

Mother of two Lucy will always welcome you with her best smile despite her busy schedule. She is extremely efficient and proactive, sets personal high standards, challenges herself daily, and keeps us all on our toes updating our hourly schedules. She likes reading and gathering information which has led to her nickname “Google”, because there is not much that she doesn’t know. She also loves riding her horses and spending time in the countryside, appreciates the simple things in life and has a contagious laugh.

G M International Management is headed by Director Vanessa Palmero Haywood and run by Property Management Administrator Pia Alvarez, backed by the administrative and accounting staff together with the office manager Lucy Martinez. This section is responsible for the Management of an extensive portfolio of both Residential and Commercial properties in Gibraltar and Spain. We also provide rental management services to individuals and corporate clients in various situations due to travelling arrangements or personal conditions. 

Why You Should Choose
G M International Homes (Property Management
Services):

Property Management is all we do. It’s what we specialise in and focus on, therefore making your property and development our number one priority. We are very much a hands-on management company designed to deliver exceptional results. We appreciate our clients’ time is important and as your Property Managers we will do our utmost to assist the first time you call. 

Professional Managing Agents

Instructed by residents, developers and freeholders, G M International is a knowledgeable and experienced professional management company, proficient in the management of a wide range of schemes including modern mixed use apartment schemes, sustainable developments and almost everything in-between. G M International are the complete property management experts, successfully delivering specialist and award winning services to developments throughout Gibraltar and Spain.

Whatever the type of property, our managing agents here at G M International will ensure that it is managed to the highest possible standards at an economic cost, providing you with complete peace of mind. We hope that you will enjoy your visit to our web site and that you will find your route to the property of your dreams and consider trusting us with your business. 

www.gmihomes.com  

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First time buyers guide

Buying a home can be a challenging time, especially for those looking to take their first step on the property ladder. From the exchange of contracts to the purchase of a property, this guide will arm you with the relevant knowledge to make the home buying process easier. 

Contracts

Firstly, you will have to sign a purchase agreement. This governs the relationship between you and the seller between exchange and completion. Secondly, you need to sign your Title Deeds. These consist of a Deed of Underlease and Trust Deed.

The Deed of Underlease deals with the terms of your use and occupation of the property after completion. The Underlease grants the purchaser absolute title to the property by virtue of a 150 year lease.

A Trust Deed deals with the terms and conditions whereby you as beneficial owner hold the property on trust for yourself and the Government as legal owners (in your respective shares).

Mortgage Facility

There are plenty of lending institutions which can offer you a mortgage facility in Gibraltar, the most popular being NatWest International Bank and Gibraltar International Bank. The lending institutions are willing to offer you a mortgage facility of 90-95% of the purchase price of the property. The Initial Interest rate offered varies from 2% to 4.49% depending on the value of the mortgage facility obtained followed by a Follow On Interest Rate of 5%. Once you have obtained an offer, the lending institution will contact us with instructions and we will provide them with the required documents.

Stamp Duty

Stamp Duty is the tax that the government charges when you purchase a property over £200,000. You pay different rates depending on the value of your property and the amount of your mortgage (if any).

There is no stamp duty to be paid when the property value does not exceed £200,000 or the property value is lower than £260,000 and you’re a first or second time buyer.

Thereafter it is:

2% on the first £250,000 and 5.5% on the balance, where the property value exceeds £200,000 but does not exceed £350,000 and 3% on the first £350,000 and 3.5% on the balance where the property value exceeds £350,000.

If the property is financed with a mortgage loan, the amount would be 0.13% where the amount borrowed does not exceed £200,000 and 0.20% for amounts in excess of £200,000.

Payment is due after completion. 

Title Deeds

The Title Deeds include the Deed of Underlease and the Deed of Mortgage. They both require registration. This includes a Land Registry registration fee which must be paid by you. The Title Deeds will be sent to the financial institution which has granted you a mortgage facility to purchase the property. They will keep them until your mortgage is paid.

Attias & Levy are able to assist and guide you through the process of purchasing a first time property in Gibraltar. 

Legal Fees:

Our Legal Fee is £250. £125 to be paid on Exchange of Contracts and £125 on Completion.

Contact: 

Dustin (Conveyancing Partner) 

Tel: +350 200 72150

Email: dj@attlev.gi / info@attlev.gi

Visti: www.attiaslevy.com

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Is your home or apartment adequately insured?

At some point in our lives, most of us will need to arrange Home Insurance. It may be your very first home, your forever home, a buy-to-let investment, that long held dream of a holiday home in the sun, or as a tenant, looking to protect your personal belongings and potential damages to your Landlord’s property.

Having home insurance is not required by law but is highly recommended as it can help you replace your home and treasured possessions that may have been affected by a wide range of perils and may also protect you against claims from third parties, e.g. neighbours. As an example, a mid-floor apartment fire is likely to cause considerable damage to the neighbouring properties so you should ensure you have home insurance to cover this loss.

Most standard Home policies are very similar, protecting against standard risks such as Fire, Theft, Water damage, Public Liability, etc. Something worth reviewing is the levels of cover, extra cover as standard and optional add-ons that really give you assurance that your property is fully protected. For example, your apartment may have some communal cover with a management agency, but quite 

often these have high excesses and don’t cover items such as glazed balconies or any improvements you’ve made since it was built, so it’s worth checking to make sure you have adequate cover in place.

Ensure that both buildings and the contents sums insured are correct to avoid being underinsured and hence losing out in the event of a claim or over insured and hence paying too high a premium. When deciding on what figure to use for your building insurance, make sure you use the rebuild value and not the market value. This is a very common mistake to make and can make the premium a lot higher that it needs to be, if calculated wrong.

Also, if you rent your property on a short-term or long-term basis, you should extend the liability cover in case of injury to your tenants whilst on your property. As a Tenant, you’ll need Tenant’s Liability cover, in case you cause accidental damage to your Landlord’s property or your pet causes injury to someone outside the boundary of your property. (Please note that dangerous dogs are usually excluded).

Home Insurance is not only about protecting ourselves against major losses, but also about everyday life and the small accidents that challenge us from time to time. Hence make sure you have Accidental Damage cover so that if you trip over the cable of your new LED TV and smash the screen, or drop a saucepan and crack your ceramic hob, or perhaps a bottle of aftershave onto the bathroom sink, all is covered. 

Some insurers offer ‘All-Risks’ cover as an optional add-on on permanent home policies. This relates to worldwide cover away from the home, for loss and theft, for those small items of jewellery or valuables (wedding ring, everyday earrings, designer handbag etc), or your engagement ring. Also some give the option to cover your pedal cycles or golf clubs.

‘What about my contents, what amount should I insure for?’ It would surprise you how easily your contents value mounts up. Remember, in the event of a total loss, you would need to replace everything down to knives, forks and spoons, bed and bath linen, etc. The best way to get an idea is to imagine turning your home upside down and seeing what falls out. That is basically what you need to insure your contents for.

To ensure you are well protected call Ibex Insurance. You can visit our office at 68 Irish Town or call us on 200 44628 to discuss your insurance needs.

A heaven of calm

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Calm is used to refer to a quiet, still, or peaceful atmosphere in a place and creating a haven of calm in our homes can have a powerful impact on how we feel, how productive we are, or how well we sleep.

The ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui can help you to achieve harmony and create a relaxing ambience and tranquil environment, but bear in mind that the first step to creating a good flow of energy is to declutter your home because no amount of Feng Shui will create calm in a cluttered area.

Decorating with Feng Shui means knowing how to choose the right colours and decorative elements and use them in the specific areas of your home to bring nourishing energy to your space and to the different areas of your life. However, remember that too much energy can make a room chaotic, whereas too little of it can make it bland and uninteresting. It’s all about maintaining a balance.

Ancient Feng Shui masters not only defined the eight major life areas that are important for your happiness and well-being; they also mapped the connection between these life areas and the energy of our homes. The energy map of the home is called the bagua, usually defined by the compass direction of the front door, and each of the eight areas are defined by five specific elements; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. 

Colour

Colour is an important tool that can create a simple and effective transformation to the energy in your home and the best thing about colour is that it is a quick and easy way to change the energy of a space. 

Bedrooms

We spend a lot of time in our bedrooms, and not only is it a place for rest and rejuvenation but it’s also somewhere that we can share beautiful moments with our loved ones. Think about painting the walls in warm skin tones such as cream, peach, tan, terracotta, coral or cocoa. Soft natural colours like light blues, greens and lavenders will lend the bedroom a quiet, tranquil vibe and invite healing energy.

Living Rooms

The living room is where we gather together to entertain and interact with friends and family. For a comfortable and soothing feel, use a palette of grey, light blue, pale yellow and blush. Blues and greens represent new beginnings and healing.

Water Features

Adding water features into your home is a good way to maintain a calm, serene atmosphere. The sound of flowing, trickling water is soothing and can help to release stress or tension and produces abundant negative ions, bringing more energy and vitality. Water, especially flowing water, is also related to wealth, abundance, and cash flow. Feng Shui principles specify the different areas where fountains should and should not be placed in the home. For instance, fountains should not be used in the marital bedroom because water can douse the fire that fuels marital passion.

Fountains can be placed inside or outside the front door but the direction the water flows is important in facilitating energy flow. When placed outside your front door, make sure the water in the fountain flows towards the door, not away from it, so that you bring the energy into your home, not push it away. When placing a fountain inside your front door, place it so the water is flowing in towards your house interior and not out towards the door, or you may push the energy back out of the front door.

Strangely, although we think of blue as the colour associated with water, it is actually allied with the colour black. Try adding black cushions, art, furniture, vases, or other accessories to add more water to your home.  

Greenery and Plants

Plants are a great way to ensure that your home is a haven of calm and there are several that are perfect to de-stress your home and provide you with a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity, just beware of creating a jungle that could overwhelm and avoid cacti, which Feng Shui experts say can have negative energy.

Orchids are beautiful to look at and certain species of orchids have been known to have very distinct pleasant relaxing fragrances, so this is definitely a plant to keep in the bedroom.  

The scented flowers of the Jasmine plant are said to alleviate stress and stimulate romance. In fact, in studies the plant has been shown to improve sleep quality, balance hormones and help with hot flushes and mood swings

Lavender is another plant that helps to lower anxiety and stress, improves sleep and, it is claimed, calms agitated babies. 

Have you heard of a new design trend called a ‘breathing room’? This is a stress free space that you can go to where you can eliminate clutter from your mind. It can be as small as a corner or part of a larger room, but it is somewhere that is a safe sanctuary where you can unplug and turn off devices to calm your mind.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter how you choose to calm your home or whether you use the principles of Feng Shui or not, once you walk into a beautiful, thoughtfully-planned space, you just relax.

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Design trends to Refresh and Reinvigorate your home

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Spring is a time of optimism, of rebirth and renewal and after long months of having to stay at home and look at the walls that enclose us, some of us may feel that we need to make a change to our bland and underwhelming interiors, remove drab and sombre tones and add some fresh, vibrant and exciting colour to our interiors.  

Unsurprisingly, there is a move away from minimalism to creating comforting and nurturing surroundings, embracing a more elegant, maximalist style; think layers, textures and mixing old with new but using sustainable materials, upcycling and recycling as much as possible. 

Omnis magnatem. Ut exped es ad quiae voluptat For 2021 Pantone has chosen not one but two colours of the year, pairing the neutral Ultimate Grey together with a sunny yellow called Illuminating which they say is: “A marriage of colour conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.” Grey has been the trendy neutral for several years now and to bring it up-to-date try using the yellow to give a pop of dynamic colour with cushions, throws and accessories. In contrast, Dulux announced Brave Ground as their colour of the year featuring warm earthy tones that they say “creates a feeling of stability, growth and potential; and provides a firm foundation for change and creativity in your home.” Warm neutrals take us back to nature and they work brilliantly with bursts of colour and can be a comforting, calm and timeless trend.  

Working from home has had a huge impact and has meant that we have had to repurpose existing rooms and come up with creative solutions to accommodate different zones where we can eat, sleep, work and play. Home offices, often just the dining room table or a desk set up in an available corner, need to be flexible spaces with multi-purpose furniture and clever storage solutions that can offer a sense of calm. Use curtains or shelving systems to act as room dividers and create zoned working areas. 

The rise of virtual meetings has led many of us to rethink our setting and background, and if you don’t want to follow the trend often seen in television interviews of someone sitting in front of a bookshelf, then you can craft a more aesthetically pleasing one just by installing some good lighting, interesting artwork or some strategically placed greenery. If a bookshelf is your only option, show off your books in style by arranging them by colour to create a visually pleasing backdrop. 

Another big trend has come from our desire to travel to distant lands, a wanderlust which we haven’t been able to fulfil because of lockdown restrictions. This will be echoed in interior design influences taken from exotic locations such as Moroccan inspired settings or tropical themed designs.  

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Bringing the outside in is something else that features across the board of interior design. Green is everywhere at the moment and it could be said that this colour is the new grey. Synonymous with nature, different tones of green can evoke lush forests, verdant countryside or tranquil meadows. Use paler tones in a bedroom to soothe your mind, body and soul or the darker, jewel tones of emerald green paired with another colour that might surprise you – pink – now seen as another interiors neutral. 

Wallpaper is back with a bang. Not just for feature walls, but wrapped around the entire circumference of a room. If you want to make a statement consider using panoramic, scenic or painterly murals which have come a long way since the 1970s and Hilda Ogden’s beloved landscape “muriel” (her name for the mural on her living room wall). To complement the décor, graphic prints and rich coloured fabrics featuring exuberant floral prints in vivid colour combinations can be used for curtains and upholstery. For a sophisticated touch add highlights with cotton linens, raw silks, or wools and heavy weaves in neutral tones. 

Textured walls continue to be a big theme that has carried over from 2020, upgraded from the Anaglypta or woodchip wallpaper and thick swirly Artex that we remember from previous eras that were used to cover up uneven walls, now wallpaper can be found in different textured effects including printed cork, beaded papers or 3D designs that cry out to be touched.   Geometric wallpaper was another trend that started last year and it’s one that is here to stay. The bold, clean lines of repeating patterns combined with a touch of metallic is an easy way to add an air of sophistication to any room.   

The bedroom has become a sanctuary where we can take ourselves away from the anxieties of life outside our homes, somewhere we can find mental and physical relaxation, so it makes sense that we want it to be cosy and comforting as well as beautiful and stylish. Big upholstered headboards with taller, curved silhouettes have become the go-to choice to make a real statement and create a focal point. If you want a boutique hotel refined chic experience, combining luxurious materials in subtle shades will give you the opulence you crave. For an atmosphere of intimacy, so often found in boutique hotel bedrooms, paint or paper the walls in dark colours and brighten the room with mirrors and chandeliers. Consider hanging an extravagant floral mural behind the bed and then keep the accessories quite simple, with plain bedding in a colour that matches the backdrop and add accents in contrasting shades.

A growing trend in interior design has been the use of ecological materials such as reclaimed wood and stone mixed with textural details in wicker and rattan. Add these to your home with furniture made from cane, or baskets and planters made of rattan and soften with velvet and linen materials.  Talking of velvet, this luxurious material is back in fashion and no longer considered old-fashioned and boring and is set to become one of the most sought-after trends in 2021. Mixing not matching is the way to go with your furniture, but try and bind the scheme together through material, colour, style or pattern to make it a cohesive space. If the idea of mixing furniture seems a little too much, bear in mind that you don’t have to mismatch every piece of furniture in order to create an interesting interior.  

There is no doubt that our homes need more warmth, comfort, and cosiness now more than ever before. Rather than the straight lines that dominated furniture over the last decade we will be embracing curves and rounded silhouettes. Add drama to your living room with a seductive curved sofa with rounded arms and soft edges, oversized ergonomic chairs and tables with shapely legs. 

Don’t panic when you hear that Granny Chic, aka “grandmillennial,” is hotly tipped as a rising design trend for this year. This style is meant to evoke comfort, nostalgia and tradition and combines vintage style with contemporary elements.  To ensure it’s not twee, balance is crucial, so add some quirky and slightly kitschy patterns with floral wallpaper, delicate china or whimsical items that evoke memories of granny’s home, but don’t go overboard. Layer some new staple modern pieces such as a reclaimed wooden dining table with old chairs, hang mirrors with ornate frames and use bold colours. 

One of the small benefits of lockdown has been the appreciation that we have gained for our home environment, realising that it is a place of safety that can nurture and make us more productive, and there is no doubt that comfort, wellness and sustainability will be a priority for the foreseeable future. Although interior design trends keep going in and out of style, maybe we all need to indulge a little bit more in Hygge, the Danish concept of taking pleasure in everyday things and creating a cosy atmosphere in the home. So dim the lights, get out the scented candles, cuddle up under blankets and soft cushions (made from natural materials, of course) and enjoy.   

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Moving House …. Or staying put.

We all like to make the house we live in our home or perhaps you’re trying to sell and you want to make it stand out from the rest. To achieve this you might decide to re-decorate, have new floors and maybe even a new kitchen and these big standout improvements will certainly help. However, there’s something a lot more subtle you can do which may not be so in your face but it will make a noticeable difference.

Take a look at your switches and sockets, have you got that one socket that doesn’t quite work right or a light switch the you need to use in a certain way for it to work or may be the light on the cooker switch doesn’t work.

Replacing these accessories with new ones can be fairly inexpensive, especially if you opt for white ones. If there’s a little more in your budget you could go for a decorative metal finish and there is a huge range available that will match in with the look and feel of your home.

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Also consider introducing some sockets with integrated USB charging points or adding a dimmer to some lighting – just make sure your lights are dimmable.

Suddenly everything works properly and you’ve wiped out all those marks left behind from years of fingers poking at switches.

You might even decide to introduce some “smart” sockets or control modules behind light switches.

Now when it comes to smart home equipment don’t assume it’s only for large villas and houses or that everything throughout your house has to be a smart thing.

Here are a couple of examples where ClickSmart+ came in useful:

A customer’s child often needed the loo during the night and he would turn lights on, and leave them on, disturbing the rest of the household. A movement sensor in the hallway and a couple of lighting controllers means as soon as the little boy leaves his room the lights in the hall and bathroom would come on automatically at 5% brightness, stay on for 15 minutes then turn off.

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A smart socket fitted to a customer’s mother’s house where the kettle was plugged in will send the customer a notification if the socket is not used between certain times of the day. That message prompts her to call and make sure her mother’s OK or if she just didn’t fancy her afternoon tea !

Another customer had smart sockets in the children’s rooms – one at a dressing table which will automatically switch off after being on for 10 minutes meaning the daughter’s hair straighteners are never left on. The socket in the boys room will switch off at a certain time of night meaning no late night gaming.

So smart home isn’t all about lazy home it can be used to solve problems, increase safety, decrease consumption and much more. You can add Click Smart+ to almost any home without any mess or disturbing your finishes.

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First time buyers

The joy and excitement an individual experiences when buying their first home is something that we never forget.  The heady combination of nerves and elation stays with us always.

For many, buying your first property is a hugely significant moment. It is a momentous stride into a particular stage of our lives – a crossover from fully fledged adult into a property owner, a keeper of our own castle and that aspect of our adult life brings a whole new level of responsibility and aspiration.

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Your first home is realistically chosen by what we can afford. We need to meet the mortgage without hopefully, sacrificing every other pleasure – big or small – in our lives. If every single penny is earns to pay the mortgage, our longed for home can soon feel like a millstone around our necks. We can end a viewing it as a burden rather than a home we have longed for.

Although finances primarily dictate what kind of property we can purchase, it is clearly not the only deciding factor. A solo buyer may opt for a smaller, more manageable flat or apartment. Naturally if you have children, a bigger home is preferable and outside space will be very desirable.  Equally, the green fingered amongst might place having a garden as a priority, possibly even above the size of the property.

Location for first time buyers is incredibly important, not simply for practical and logistical reasons but because you will look back at your first home with nostalgia and warmth that you may not attach to subsequent properties. Is living near family essential to you? Is creating a home close to your work or transport links a priority? Perhaps schools or elderly parents need to be factored in? Often, the decision on location will be a combination of several factors but clearly, with all major decisions, certain priorities will take precedence.

Once preferred location has been decided, the search can start in earnest. Looking online has changed the way we approach house hunting. We can now view the property, have a virtual walk through the rooms and take a look at the road, neighbouring properties and overall view. This can afford us the opportunity to get an initial feel for rooms, layout of property and where in the road it is situated.  What it can’t provide is the extremely important vibe you experience from actually standing in the property. The logistics and location are undeniable important but how we physically and emotionally react to a house is pivotal to whether we can envisage ourselves actually living there. No matter how tick-box perfect somewhere is, if you can’t imagine creating a life there, it clearly is not the home for you. Visiting at least a couple of times can prove very beneficial. Perhaps at different times of the day, a weekday and at the weekend. This will create a more realistic picture of the neighbourhood, level of noise and the general feel of the area. Your opinion about a house and how it can work for you as an individual, couple, or family is unquestionably important but your surrounding living area also has a role to play. It is part of a bigger landscape as to why you want to live there.

How we create our interiors, our living spaces differs depending on what we consider important and which elements work for how we live.  The colour palette we chose is incredibly important. It is widely acknowledged that certain colours inspire different moods and feelings. Blue is associated with serenity and calm, yellow symbolises energy and joy.  Personal favourites can influence what we feel comfortable surrounding ourselves with. There could be a nostalgic nod to our childhood or a colour that evokes comfort, inspiration – perhaps a touch of retro glamour.

Of course how we furnish our homes is incredibly important. For first time buyers, there is an extra level of relevance to how and what we choose.  We are not bringing items from a previous home – we are reflecting ourselves and our own personal choices for the very first time. 

The array of interior options is dazzling, from online retailers to more traditional store choices, furniture, mirrors, lighting, all these contribute to creating an ambiance. Every home has its own rhythm, a unique reflection on the person or family that lives there. 

Gordon Fraser is a Wellness Entrepreneur & Life Coach and believes ‘the sense of pride that comes with ownership, especially your first and the feelings of independence and achievement. This is the space where you’ll create so many of your life experiences; friends and family, neighbours, lovers, plumbers and delivery drivers may cross your threshold but most importantly – there will be no landlords and the rules you abide by will be the ones you set for yourself!

You can help reduce the anxiety of buying your first property by being clear on what you want, observing your budget, your “must haves” and what you will compromise on, too. Being organised is so important.

How many have had that “gut feeling” – one step over the threshold (and without even caring what the bathroom looks like), exclaimed – “this is the one!” because you fell in love with the fireplace?

We’ve been there. I’ve let my emotions and fantasies overrun my pragmatism and have been seduced by a bay window and a lilac wall – as I all to eagerly ignored the six-flights-of-stairs, the green and yellow bedroom and the lack of central heating!

Be careful, Décor is such a tease. In a way we’re buying other people’s lifestyles, we see their tastes and their values, their art and technology. If you’re potential home doesn’t meet your “must haves” it’s irrelevant what the colour of the walls are or the brand of fridge.

The walls can always be painted another colour, but the electric substation is unlikely to move. Stay focussed – why do you think it’s been on the market so long?

Before you start looking seriously, ideally have your deposit in the bank and your mortgage pre-arranged so you’re ready to go. Being seen as a proceedable buyer is attractive to the seller and will support your journey and help reduce the stress’.

Gordon Fraser, Wellbeing
Entrepreneur & Life Coach:

Website:  gordonfraser.cos

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A fictional account. Taken from the Graphic Magazine of 1901

Birvaneff laughed without any trace of a sneer. He was cock-sure, that was all, but none the less irritating. I pulled him up sharply. 

“You are only bluffing,” I said. “ You may know about our guns at home; all the world does, I suppose, since nowadays half of them come from Germany ; I daresay you have plans and specifications of our ships—we have of yours ; but there are still a few secrets that Britain keeps to herself just a few.”                                                                              

He only laughed again and lit a cigarette. He was quite pleasant about it, but still most annoyingly confident.                                                                                                            

 “Not one!” he declared, “not a single one! We know you inside and out. Harbours, ships, railways, batteries, rifles, and men—we have information of everything, down to the boots and clothing in store. I believe I could tell you within a hundred pairs how many “ bullswools,” as you call them, have been returned as imperfect within the last month to your army clothing department. I’ll inquire when I get back and write to you if you like. You can compare and see how near I come.”                                                     

“Oh, hang your statistics! “ said I. “ You can get those from any clerk, who may or may not be a foreigner, and in the clothing depot often is. Numbers of saddles and horses and men and rifles are not hard to come at. London is a sieve of information. But here, in Gibraltar things are a trifle different. Could you give me the armament of Battery 15 in the second gallery, upper tier, for instance?

 He didn’t answer me at once. He looked at me with a sort of meditative inquiry.  

“I dare say I could—if you gave me time,” he said, slowly. “But, then, you couldn’t check the information yourself.” 

“Oh, but I could!” said I.

“You could?”

“Yes, with infinite exactness.”

He stared at me thoughtfully. “I thought the information was kept secret even in your own army. We know, of course; we make it our business to know. But I understand that the upper tier armament is entirely in the hands of the superior officers of the artillery and engineers. I will flatter you by saying that they, as a rule, are not to be corrupted.”           

I nodded and grinned.   “We are not flattered,” I answered, “but we take your compliment in the spirit in which it is offered. As a member of the incorruptible body I thank you.” 

“But how will you check my information, then?” he asked. “It’s my own battery,” said I, simply   

and Tring laughed, for I certainly had scored. Birvaneff was not put out.

“That, of course, is conclusive,” he agreed. “But all the same, when I return home I’ll see if I can’t surprise you with my accuracy. I have not the information at my fingers’ ends, and can’t give it off-hand. We don’t in the least mind your knowing how much he know. It is because we can gauge your strength so exactly that we don’t pick a quarrel. But it must come in time, you see. We are growing steadily. We shall be ready one day. Then—“

“Then?” said Ferrers.

“Well, let us hope it will mean promotion for us all,” answered Birvaneff, sweetly.

He settled down to play sixpenny nap with three of the fellows after that, and as one of my sergeants was ill in hospital I strolled over to see after him. When I got back an hour later Birvaneff was gone and the chaps were discussing him.

“See you propose him as honorary member of the mess?” said the Colonel.

“Yes Sir.”

“Where did you pick him up, Strange?“ I explained that he was in the Prince’s suite, and that he brought a letter from my brother in England. “You will see for yourself, sir,” said I, as I drew it from my pocket-book and handed it to him.

The letter said that the bearer, Hetman Birvaneff, of the 31st Regiment of Oural Cossacks, had been attaché at the Russian Embassy, was everybody’s friend, and a thorough sportsman. He spoke English like a native, liked a good dinner, and knew a horse and a cigar. He had given my brother famous introductions last winter in St. Petersburg, and the former therefore hoped that I would return this hospitality vicariously for him while. The Cossack captain, who was attached to Prince Basil’s staff during his Mediterranean tour, sojourned at Gibraltar. Anything that I could do to give Boris Birvaneff a good time would be thoroughly appreciated by the writer, who trusted I kept fit, was seeing good sport with the Calpe, and remained my affectionate brother.

The Colonel handed it back with a nod of approval.

“Why, certainly,” he said.

So for the next fortnight we saw a good deal of the Hetman of the 31st Regiment of Oural Cossacks, and the more we saw of him the less reason we had to dislike him. For a Russian, as the Colonel put it, he seemed a thoroughly good sort. He talked, he thought, apparently, and, lastly and especially, rode like an Englishman. He got two days’ leave from his Prince, and we took him over to the Tent Club camp at Tangier. The next day he took “first spear” out of Ferrers’s mouth, so to speak, with a horny old grey-back of a boar in a decisive fashion that made us fairly blink. “Good Lord!” was the only remark Ferrers made; but he looked from Birvaneff to the boar and from the boar to Birvaneff as if lie thought there was some extraordinary mistake somewhere. Ferrers is rather our top line man at pig-sticking, and got unmercifully chaffed for many days after.

But what we liked particularly about Birvaneff was that with all this sort of thing he carried no side. He treated his own riding and our riding- we had all been members of the Tent Club for over a year, you must remember-as a simple matter of course.

“Ride? “ he said, with a sort of wonder, when somebody hinted that his horsemanship was something above the average. “Why, of course I ride! I am a soldier, a cavalry man.”

We pondered that if the God of battles ever sent the 31st Regiment of Oural Cossacks full tilt against one of His Majesty’s batteries of R.H. A. there would be some fine swordsmanship, that is to say, if the troopers rode like their Hetman.

We liked him even better after that, and, in some ways, I think he returned the liking. He wandered in and out of the anti room of the mess all day long. Most evenings found him there, unless the Prince had need of his society, or when he dined with the Governor, which he did once it twice. He was good enough to take a special interest in me, and always darting professional questions at me. Some of these were a bit awkward to answer. 

I can’t see how you keep a very tight supervision on your guards and sentries through all these miles of galleries, he remarked one evening. You come in at the gated with a rattle of keys. The guard turns out. Of course the sentries pass the word along that the Officer of the Day is on his rounds. He must be signaled from post to post long before he gets to them.     

Between whiles they must do much as they like.”

I ginned.

“Yet we do prevent it,” I said.

“How?”

“I thought you knew as much about these things as we do ?” said I.

He laughed good-naturedly.

“Yes, you score there, He answered” I spoke too confidently. Still, I don’t see how you can avoid the thing happening as I say.”

“ Well, we don’t go in with a rattle of keys and turn out the guard, that’s all,” said Ferrers, who should have known better. I saw the Colonel frown.

Birvaneff stared at him with that look of musing inquiry which he often wore. Then he nodded.

“Why, of course,” he said  ”I should have thought of that. There are secret entrances known to certain of the officers alone?”

We all laughed at his artless way of putting it.

“I think a hand or two of nap will be better than all this professional shop,” said the Colonel, quietly. “Have you time for a game before you go, Strange? For I was officer of the night.

When I left for my rounds an hour later Birvaneff came with me. We walked for a few hundred yards together before we reached the point at which we had to separate—he for the town and I for, well a point on Flagstaff Hill which many field officers (but non below that rank) knew well. It is rather lonely there on the plateau where the road divides going down past Ragged Staff towards Alameda, the other turning along towards Europa Point and the Monkey’s Cave.   

“You are confirming my hypothesis, my dear Strange,” said Birvaneff as we shook hands. Where is the guard that accompanies the officer of the day? You are going to surprise these dear gunners of yours, as I said.”

“I don’t think I am ever much of a surprise to them,” said I.

“I should like to come with you and prove it,” he mused.

I laughed. “Good-night,” said I. “See you tomorrow?”

He seemed lost in a fit of meditation.

“Good-night,” he answered, looking up with a start. “Yes, tomorrow, if you’re not tired of my ceaseless company. Hallo” He was staring out seaward, pointing to something over my shoulder. “What can that be?”

I wheeled round, gaping southward towards Africa. In the misty darkness I saw nothing but the twinkle of the stars and the riding lights of the shipping in the bay. They were dim and growing dimmer. A heavy fog was closing in from the Atlantic.

Two hands whipped sharply past my cheeks, and something soft, stuffy, and smelling sickly sweet was pressed over my mouth and nostrils. I struggled, I fought, choked; the breath seemed to drown my lungs in a flood of molten lead. I kicked convulsively with my heels behind me, but nothing loosened by a hairsbreadth the grip of the strong arms that were locking my head and shoulders. I might have been clamped by iron hands. Then a sort of weakness, deadening paralysis, seized my muscles. My arms fell against my sides. My head drooped to my chest. There was a rushing murmur like the drone of a torrent in my ears. I slept.

I woke reluctantly and drowsily. I tried to mutter words, but my tongue refused its office. There was a terrible pulse of pain at its tip. It was skewered by a silver toothpick, I afterwards found, to my lips outside my teeth. I was dumb, and the dull pressure that was at my wrists and elbows told me that I was bound. A lead weight was pressing my ankles to earth.

My eyes grew accustomed to the darkness and I realized my position. We were in the shadow of the cliff beside the private entrance to the galleries.

Sitting across my legs, Birvaneff was leaning forward to peer into my face. I saw that he was examining me to discover if I had regained consciousness. His lips dropped to my ear and he whispered :-

“Are you awake? Move your right foot if you are.”

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For a moment I hesitated, but what was the good of deceiving him? I shuffled my right foot.

I could tell by the gleam of his teeth that he grinned.

“You see, I know the secret of the entrance,” he said. “My question in the mess was to find out if you did. But unfortunately I do not know the key-word to this lock. You must open it, my friend”.

The blood flushed to my face with rage. I shook my head violently. The wicket lock is opened by a different word every night, known only to the Governor, the town major, and the officer of the day. The scoundrel! I open it! I’d see him most particularly and completely hanged first.

His right hand moved towards my breast. Something gleamed silkily in the dull shadow and I felt a sharp prick of pain.

“This stiletto is exactly over the centre of your heart, my good Strange,” he whispered, quietly. “Think, if you please, a little more discreetly. Life is good, very, very good. You stand well in your profession. The Calpe are showing capital sport. It would be dark and squalid and unnecessary to end it all here. Think of the warmth and the light and the jollity of the Tent Club campings for instance. And they tell me, too, that you are going to get married.”

A vision of Nellie’s face seemed to rise from the darkness to tempt me. Oh, it was a dark and terrible trap in which I was taken. You who hear my tale in the light, and with not an hour’ of your

Life at stake, can hardly understand the agony of that moment. To be flung out of life suddenly, treacherously; to die, not like a man, but like a cornered rat; to have no time to think, to drop as in a moment into the abyss of eternity, eternity. God forgive me. I shuffled my foot again.

He nodded as he rose warily off my legs.

Article supplied by History Society Gibraltar.
Email: historysocietygibraltar@hotmail.com