ERNEST CAMILLERI - MaltaRightNow.com

AUGUST 2008 – ISSUE 71& s T Y L eJOBS ARE USWAKING UP TO CHANGEEATINGDISORDERSSCoURGE OFOUR TIMES?THE OLYMPICsMEET OURCONTINGENTERNESTCAMILLERICOLOUR & CoutureBEATINGSTRESSEATING THERIGHT FOOD

| sports |MALTESE OLYMPICCOMMITTEEPresident :Mr. Justice Lino Farrugia SaccoVice President :Julian Pace BonelloSecretary General :Joseph CassarTreasurer :David Azzopardiwww.nocmalta.orgTel: 21332801THE MALTESECONTINGENTThe Maltese contingentforming part of TeamMalta for the BeijingOlympic Games will consistof 6 athletes from fourdisciplines - Athletics, Judo,Shooting and Swimming.Chef de Mission for TeamMalta will be Julian PaceBonello assisted by MarieTherese Zammit.The athletes who havebeen selected by theMaltese Olympic Committeeto represent Malta areCharlene Attard and NicolaiPortelli in Athletics, JudokaMarcon Bezzina, WilliamChetcuti for double-trapShooting , and Ryan Gambinand Madeleine Scerrifor Swimming. The MOCPresident, Mr. Justice LinoFarrugia Sacco, and theSecretary General, JosephCassar, will also form partof the contingent.The Athletes :CHARLENE ATTARD is a well-known face in the field of athletics. She is the first Maltese womanto run the 100m in under 12 seconds. She also holds the national record in the 200m as well as the60m outdoors. She has represented Malta at the Games of the Small States of Europe, and in the lastedition she walked away with four medals: the silver medal in the 100m, bronze in the 200m, silver inthe 4x100m and the bronze in the 4x400m. She has represented Malta in the World Indoors, the lastWorld Championships in Osaka as well as in the European Cup held in Slovakia. Charlene is 21 yearsold and has been practicing her sport for 16 years.At the age of 36, NICOLAI PORTELLI is considered Malta’s leading athlete in the 200m and 400mdistances. He is Malta’ s 200m national champion and record holder for 400m with a time of 48.14sec., and is the bronze and silver medalist for the 2003, 2005 and 2007 Games for Small States ofEurope. In 2003 he qualified for the 400m semi final for the University Games held in Daegu, Korea. In2007 he placed 4 th in the European Cup held in Bosnia, and has also participated in this year’s edition.For his Olympic debut in Beijing he opted for the 200m race.WILLIAM CHETCUTI is no newcomer, having already represented Malta at the Athens OlympicGames in double trap where he managed to make it to the final barrage and placed 9 th . Four yearslater he is once again representing Malta – with thorough preparation, practice and experience behindhim. William, who is 23 years old, has been participating regularly in top-level competitions andtraining programmes to help him reach the optimum level for these Beijing Olympic Games. He willbe competing with many experienced shooters. William is one of Malta’s most talented athletes and islisted as a possible contender for Malta’s first ever Olympic MedalMARCON BEZZINA will be Malta’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony. She made her debut atthe Olympic Games in Athens 2004. Like William Chetcuti, Marcon has had four years to prepareand develop her competition experience. During this period she claimed the gold medal twice in twodifferent weight categories at the last two editions of the Games of Small States of Europe in Andorra2005 and Monaco 2007. Marcon has been studying at UK’s Bath University for the last 2 years duringwhich time she has been training with the Great Britain Judo team. This has contributed to her highstandards which will give her a better chance on the mat. Marcon is 22 years old and has beenpracticing her sport for 11 years.RYAN GAMBIN, who recently moved here after living in Australia, follows his dream to representand compete for Malta. Malta’s no. 1 swimmer represented the country for the first time in 2008 at theEuropean Swimming Championship. At these Championships he competed in a number of categoriesmanaging to make a number of national records and most importantly making history by being Malta’sfirst swimmer to qualify for the Olympic Games with a 54.33secs in the 100m butterfly (qualifying Bstandard was 54.71secs). He is also Malta’s third representative to qualify for the Olympic Games,following archer Joanna Agius for the 1984 Olympics and Tanya Blake who made the qualifying timein the 800m and took part in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Ryan is 22 years old and has beenpracticing his sport for 16 years.MADELEINE SCERRI is another swimmer residing in Australia .She represented Malta for the firsttime at the Games of the Small States of Europe, Monaco 2007 winning 3 Bronze medals in the 200mand 100m backstroke and in the 4x100m with the medley team. Since these Games, 19-year-oldMadeleine has continued to improve her standard and times.charlene attardnicolai portelliwilliam chetcutimarcon bezzinaryan gambinMadeleine scerriHow to follow TEAM MALTA in BEIJING (local time is six hours behind)Opening Ceremony: 8 th August 2008: 20:00 - 23:30 (Local Chinese Time) (Malta is -6 hours i.e. 14:00-17:30); Closing Ceremony: 24 th August 2008: 20:00 - 23:00ATHLETICS : Nicolai Portelli : at Olympic Stadium; Men’s 200m heats: 18 th August 2008: between 09:00 – 11:58; Between 19:00 – 22:50 Semifinals; 21stAugust 2008: between 19:00 – 22:18 FinalCharlene Attard: at Olympic Stadium; Women’s 100m heats: 16 th August 2008: between 9:00 – 13:00; Between 19:00 – 22:40 100m round 2; 17 th August 2008:between 19:00 – 23:25 Semi final and FinalJUDO : Marcon Bezzina: at Beijing Science & Technology University; Women’s U63 kg: 12 th August 2008: between 12:00 – 16:30; Preliminiaries/repechages;Between 18:00 – 19:30 : Repechage A/B : Final A/B; Bronze Medal match / Gold Medal matchSHOOTING : William Chetcuti: at Beijing shooting Range; Double trap: 12 th August 2008: 9:00 – 16:15: Qualifying ; Final BarrageSWIMMING : Ryan Gambin: at National Aquatics Center; 100m Butterfly: 14 th August 2008 : heats between 18:30 – 20:40; 15 th August 2008: between 10.00 –11:34 Semifinals; 16 th August 2008: between 10:00 – 11:20 : FinalMadeleine Scerri: at National Aquatics Centre; 100m Women’s freestyle: 13 th August 2008 heats between 18:30 – 21:32; 14 th August 2008: between 10:00 –12:03 : Semi final; 15 th August 2008: between 10:00 – 11:34 : FinalL&s | august ’08 11

| WORK |By Alison BezzinaYou’ve just landed the job of your dreams! They’vegiven you a great salary, a fantastic office, an absurdlist of benefits, and the title on your business cardwill get you into all the exclusive clubs on the island.There’s just one little glitch: every morning you wakeup feeling as though an elephant is sitting on yourchest, and your heart is threatening to beat itself out ofyour rib cage. I’m not referring to your typical Mondaymorning blues, as these affect all the Working Dronesand Cubicle Cave men and women who wake up withtheir clubbing hangover. No, I’m referring to the sortof angst that makes your head spin and your stomachchurn every single morning.If fighting the dread of dragging yourself to work isthe most exhausting activity of your day, by the endof it you are bound to be left feeling like a drowningrat. It’s so terrible that at the break of dawn you findyourself running through a list of silly excuses to avoidgoing to work. You start with the idea of calling in sick,but you know you’re not up for the doctor charadeagain, not to mention the awkward phone call to HR.You then consider taking emergency leave but youknow that your boss considers this the ultimate offavours and that you’d have to pay through your teethto even the playing field. No matter how you spin it,all your interim options turn into dust; and you find thatall you can do is to fantasise about quitting altogether.Just thinking about throwing in the towel shifts theelephant off your chest, and with enough roomto exhale, you visualise yourself writing a pungentresignation letter, aloofly handing it to your boss, andhead held high walking out of the front door into thewarm sunshine. You see this so clearly that you nowfeel as though you are sitting on top of the elephant,but as soon as the alarm goes off, you’re thrown backinto reality with the elephant sitting too comfortably onyour head!Jobs are us!As so happens with every responsible human being,right on the heels of that beautiful quitting vision comesan array of heavy thoughts that hold you back fromgoing through with it. All of the reasons that your brainmanages to drum up against quitting may sound toyou like the voice of sanity, offering perfectly goodarguments why it is in fact better to stay and endurethat bad job just a little longer. But if you look a littlecloser, you’ll realise that anything that wears you downon a daily basis is never worth sticking to. No matterhow good the pay is, and no matter how much youwill have to cut back, staying in a job that demoralisesyou to the point that you feel like a prisoner-of-warabout to be slaughtered is just as bad as staying in aL&s | august ’08 13

| HOLIDAYS |UP, UP & AWAYHere’s some advicethat’s useful to pass onIt’s the holiday seasonagain – you’ve savedup throughout the year andfinally you get to splash out on that holiday in theMaldives, or wherever your budget can take you.Packing for a vacation is everyone’s nightmare –many times it’s squeezed in at the last minute...You finish work one day and fly the next, if notcatch a late night plane that same day! This canall be very stressful; but if you have a plan it canbe a tad easier. Successful packing ideally meansyou come back having used all the items youparted with.I once travelled with a friend to Amsterdam, and we stayed ina youth hostel. To my shock and horror, she did not just travel infancy, all-matching gear, but her two suitcases and the hat in herhand were testimony to the fact she had never stayed in a youthhostel, or travelled backpack style in any way. It was hysterical,and our bunk beds were the talk of our dormitory. In the deadof night, wading through strange snoring faces, we would try tosqueeze these two bulky suitcases under the bottom of the bed,and proceeded to take them out again at every possible dresschange. The lockers at the end of the corridor were of course of nouse!I’ve travelled a lot since then, and I must admit, these days Irarely make packing mistakes, except for the odd ‘evening’ outfitwhich always remains unworn.Clothing Choose clothes appropriate for the climate. If you are going somewhere warm and leaving a coldclimate, make sure you keep a jacket handy for your return. Stick with one basic colour scheme - preferably a dark one which won’t show marks andwrinkles so much. Make clothing items do double duty - men’s shorts can double up as swimming trunks, awoman’s tankini top can be an evening top. A shirt can layer over a dress in place of a jacket. Take multiple thinner items which can be layered instead of one bulky heavier piece.Thermal underwear is fantastic for cooler climates. A sarong can be the most useful item you pack. This can be used as a skirt, dress, shawl,beach towel, top sheet and a tablecloth. You can even use it as a bag at a pinch! Shoes are always difficult: heavy and bulky. Try to wear your heaviest/bulkiest pair on theplane - as long as they are comfortable. This is especially important if you have a long-haulflight. Don’t forget to include comfortable shoes for extended walking and maybe a pair orsandals or flip flops which you can dress up with an evening item.Other Items A travel alarm is important if you don’t have that function on a watch or mobile phone that youare taking with you. Prescription medicines and a copy of the prescription in case you lose your bags. If you needsight glasses make sure you have a back up: an old pair, contacts or prescription sunglasses. Toiletries: take a minimum. If you are only going on a short trip take sample sizes or buy smallcontainers and decant some to take with you. If you are travelling for longer, remember thatmost items are available anywhere – it might not be a favourite branded item, but shower gelor soap and shampoo can be found in even the remotestmountain lodges Make sure your toiletries bag is actually waterproof - asurprising number aren’t and bottles do break. Credit cards - preferably two in case one is lost or broken oreaten by the ATM. Details of your insurance policy, and important phonenumbers or email addresses of medical specialists, family,work - anyone you may need to contact if somethingoccurs to delay your return.What Not to Pack! Anything you are taking “just in case”. If you get invitedto a formal do on your holiday – you might just have toshop for an evening item! A mobile phone unless you know it works at your destination and you know what the roamingcharges are. Anything electronic unless you are sure you can plug them in / charge them at your destination. Anything you are sentimentally attached to like jewellery - you may have it stolen but far morelikely you may just misplace it or leave it behind.L&s | august ’08 19

| LIFE&STYLE |enchantinghuesErnest Camilleri is one of the mostcolourful persons around, literally andmetaphorically. Chatting with himover tea last week, Charlotte Stafraceconfirmed that Ernest embraces colourin many forms and discovered they havequite a few passions in common.Ernest is well-known in many circles – as far back as 16 years ago, he fitted me withone of the most beautiful headpieces I’ve ever seen as part of a costume for Romeo &Juliet. He’s dressed many a dame in MADC’s vivid Pantos over the years, and has beencostumier on quite a few film sets. He has also designed clothes for some of Malta’sdiscerning clients – a wide clientele including business people and singers – and he’salso conjured up many a beautiful evening gown for weddings and similar events.Ernest’s apartment in Naxxar, recently renovated and bathed in light, oozes welcome.I was led through an orange sitting room bedecked with artefacts from Thailand. Icouldn’t resist fingering the three golden Thai dance headdresses adorning a chest.I observed that the marriage of gold and orange works well in this room. Numerousdesign books overspill the small coffee table. ‘Yes, I must get a proper library’ Ernestsaid, as I caught sight of Erté on top (a true love, and a great source of inspiration Ithought!)I noticed the spotless and streamlined kitchen and couldn’t help asking if it’s new. It’sso inviting, I thought! Ernest divulged he’s one to acquire every new kitchen gadget onthe market, together with the best cooking pots and all the fashionable cookbooks. Butthat’s as far as it gets. Then it’s up to his partner, Daniel, to concoct and conjure up allthe exciting and different tastes of the world. Ernest is happier taking meticulous careof his guests. Laughing he told me that once he evendecided to ‘invest’ in an industrial juicer, only to use ita few times, before packing it away. His garage is theultimate refuge for a multitude of impulse-bought items.Ernest loves the world of shopping – he confides tobeing a shopaholic. He will buy just anything on his tripsabroad, which have been many, and where he’s at hishappiest. Amusingly, he recounted recently trying tocharm airport checking-in staff to be let off, after trundling30+ kilos of luggage with him.But where did his calling stem from, I was dying toask? Hardly surprised, I found out that Ernest comesfrom a truly artistic family. He’s been involved in theindustry, deftly creating carnival costumes, as well asdancing, since the tender age of eight. Born in Sannat,Gozo, he has fond memories of sewing ‘frilly’ costumestogether with his mum and sister. He’s proud to havebeen encouraged to pursue his passion. He started20 L&s | august ’08

| INTERVIEW |right: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Ernest Camilleri with the assistance of Norman Hill)Left: period costumes for 'amadeus'.Travelling to thailandLeft: king and I; right: othello'hercules' pantomaking head pieces at age 12, and even had his owncarnival company by the time he was 16 years old.A steady job with Air Malta earned him cash to livea comfortable life and gave him wings – yet he alwaysdreamed of doing something else. His passion to designwas really sparked when he joined the drama schoolMTADA back in the 1990s. There he delved into scriptsand he saw how characters could come to life moreconvincingly if they donned the right trimmings – ‘Youcan’t dress people unless you know what they feel’.People like the late Lina Galea Cumbo, a master makeupartist at MTADA, also encouraged him to pursuehis talents. He finally decided to ditch the comfort zonethat was his steady job for a hands-on one, when hejoined the team at Hot Couture/Morgan. Here he gotto work with designers and travelled abroad to supplythe shops’ clothes. The stint at MTADA also triggeredhis love for the theatre – a love which still burns brightly.By chance he was offered to design the costumes forMADC’s annual pantomime ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ in1990 and asked to present something new – ‘and therest is history’. To date, he has designed around ten ofthe pantomimes. I remember watching and holding mybreath at the final walk-down, when Ernest’s creationswould have to be wheeled-in or jacked-up to take theirdue position centre-stage. These costumes have beena spectacle in themselves. Ernest’s love for the theatrehas also given him an opportunity to design and makecostumes for all the major dance schools, as well asenable him to work on film.We chatted about the highs and lows of working in thefilm world and the new work opportunities being createdfor the ever-busy designer. His work on the major film‘Agora’, recently shot in Malta, proved to be an amazingexperience as he was Set Cast Dresser for the mainactors and daily players. He described learning about thepainstaking work carried out on costumes which need tobe aged – ‘a process which takes weeks’. He has lovedevery minute of it – and the long hours he put in translateinto a lot of minutes – learning about a different aspect tohis trade. Besides Agora, he has worked on the BBC’s‘Roman Mysteries’, a Danish film called ‘The Treasure ofthe Knights Templar III’, Largo Winch (Costumier) and ona beer commercial, this last being what clinched his newlove for the world of film.However, Ernest feels happiest when he gets theopportunity to design musicals – especially if ‘there’sspace for some sexy designs’. To date he’s designed LaCage Aux Folles, Company, The King & I, The Little ofShop of Horrors, Cabaret and The Rocky Horror Showamongst others. Ernest however feels equally challengeddesigning period costumes – like he did for the stageversion of ‘Amadeus’ for Masquerade or ‘Othello’ forMADC. But then Ernest is happy in many shoes.When I asked who the designers he admires are, Iwas not surprised that he loves the theatricality of thelikes of Galliano, but is also fascinated by the lines ofVersace – particularly those of Gianni Versace himself.Ernest also claims he would have been a happy bunnyin the ‘swinging sixties’, when design really took adifferent direction – and everybody was out to break withconvention, with Paco Rabanne and Vivienne Westwooda couple of the ones who did just that.How does he work with his clients? Ernest feels he’scomfortable working after he sees their shape, gets togauge their ideas and find a happy medium. He’s boldenough to pull away from initial concepts if he thinks hecan’t pull it off. When I asked who he would dream of‘dressing’, in his whimsical impish way he was quick toretort how he would love to dress ‘or half dress’ AngelinaJolie. He feels that she is the epitome of the hour-glassfigure and would befit his penchant for the sexy andglamorous look.Inspiration comes in many forms. Besides the manybooks he fervently buys, and the magazines which keephim up to date with various designers’ latest work, Ernestis content finding stimulation through travel. We spoke atlength about the colours in different cultures and gettinglost in markets, the texture of fabrics and the scentsaround him on his many journeys. Working freelancethese days gives him the opportunity to up and go, orstay and sew.Dreamlike I made my own way back – for a couple ofhours Ernest had filled my morning with exuberance forlife and colour. ‘Everything happens for a reason,’ stillrings in my head.L&s | august ’08 21

| NUTRITION |L&S bodyCliff Sultana Dip.PT (UK) We’ve all been through stressful times at some point in ourlives - whether it is job related, driving in rush hour, or simplydealing with life’s trials and tribulations.it has beenproven thatchocolateand wine(staplefoods forthe ‘stressdiet’) canbe good foryou whentaken inmoderation.One thing’s for sure; there are no benefits to leadinga stressful life. Muscles will tighten, our metabolismand heart rate increase, blood pressure rises, andadrenaline and cortisol are released by our body toprepare itself for the fight-or-flight response.And what do we do to ease ourstress? Increase our intake of‘comfort’ food. Foods suchas chocolate, ice-creamand crisps - all producedusing high fat, refined andhighly processed ingredients- actually exacerbate thecondition rather than helprelieve it. Even though thesefoods have been made popularthrough movies such as Sex and theCity (which admittedly I haven’t watched butcan assume contains at least one scene of ‘comfort’eating!), sticking to this diet will only lead to furtheranxiety and, eventually, medication to deal with thecompound effects brought on by long-term stress.Having said that, it has been proven that chocolateand wine (staple foods for the ‘stress diet’) can begood for you when taken in moderation. Besidesbeing an antioxidant (which helps fight the effects ofageing) chocolate can also help you relax due to themild stimulating effect it evokes owing to the releaseof endorphins and serotonin, both of which leave yourbrain feeling lighter and calmer.You’ll also be glad to hear thatone or two glasses of wine dailyhave shown to reduce the risk ofheart disease, certain cancers andslow the progression of neurologicaldegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’sand Parkinson’s disease. Wine alsoacts as an antioxidant and canraise your good cholesterol (HDLcholesterol).And no, drinking thewhole bottle will not stop you fromgrowing old or make you immune tocancer!So what other foods besides wineand chocolate will help us functionat our emotional and physical best?For a calming effect - milk (good for calmingmuscles and reducing anxiety), pistachios (loadedwith good fats and antioxidants), oatmeal (carbshelp calm the brain) and avocado (half an avocado aday will increase mood-boostingserotonin levels in the brain).For sharpening your senses– whole-wheat toast(unrefined carbs helpkeep you feeling fuller forlonger and reduce bloodsugar fluctuations),eggs (the wholeegg! – helps enhancememory), turkey (helpsproduce dopamine andnorepinephrine whichhelp the brain perform complexcalculations).So there you have it. What to eat when you feellike killing somebody. Of course this is by no meansa complete list. Fruit, vegetables and adequate waterintake are also highly beneficial and help reduce moodswings.Whatever you choose to eat, don’t stick to the sofawith a tub of ice-cream in one hand and an oversizedspoon in the other – there’s no magic stress-relievingpill at the bottom of that tub!L&s | august ’08 23

| HEALTH |SWIMMER’SEARJohn CutajarMD MRCSEd DO-HNS(doctor of medicine and surgery)Part 2 of 2When the canal contains discharge or debris, thiscan be cleaned to allow the applied medication towork more effectively. Such cleaning may need tobe repeated regularly. Additionally, if the canal issignificantly swollen, your doctor may choose to inserta special wick into the ear canal that absorbs applieddrops and expands, so as to allow them to reach allparts of the canal despite the swelling. These wicksshould be removed and/or changed after 24 to 48hours. These ear canal procedures, be it cleaning orwick insertion/changing, should only be carried out bya trained doctor who can see what he’s doing, usingspecialised equipment. Fiddling blindly with your ownears is much more likely to make things worse!These measures are usually sufficient for symptomsto resolve within a few days. Pain-relieving medicationssuch as paracetamol or anti-inflammatory drugs canbe taken as dictated by the duration and severity ofthe earache, and can thus be stopped as symptomssubside. However, other medications such as eardrops or oral antibiotics are prescribed as a full courseof predetermined duration. Stopping these prematurelymay lead to recurrence of infection, which may turnout to be more difficult to treat the second time round.During treatment, one should avoid wetting the earsas this could worsen, prolong and complicate theinfection. Swimming, especially diving, should beavoided at all costs. Cotton wool balls impregnatedwith lubricating jelly can be used to occlude the earcanal opening, protecting the canal from water whileshowering.Complying with prescribed treatment, maintainingmedical follow-up and adhering to the above adviceusually result in a satisfactory outcome. However,some cases tend to persist, worsen or recur, andthese should be referred for specialist assessment.Worsening of symptoms on starting ear drops shouldalso be reported to the prescribingdoctor, as this may signify allergy tothese medications.Swimmer’s ear is a conditionthat can affect anyone. However,some people are more at risk thanothers. An important predisposingfactor associated with increasedrisk of infection is cotton bud use. This causes waximpaction, with subsequent increased risk of trappingof water in the ear canal. Additionally, cotton buds(and anything else used to scratch the ears, includingfingers!) may irritate and traumatize the sensitive earcanal, causing small cuts which provide bacteria andfungi with the opportunity to penetrate the skin andcause infection. The inside of the ears should thus onlybe cleaned if wax is causing problems (such as hearingloss or recurrent infections), and this should only bedone by trained doctors or nurses using specialisedequipment.Other risk factors for swimmer’s ear are abnormallynarrow ear canals, medical conditions such as diabetesor eczema, swimming in contaminated water andthe use of hair sprays/dyes, some of which containsubstances that irritate the ears. Those who getrecurrent infections can sometimes be helped by useof ear plugs designedto prevent waterentering the ear canalduring swimming,and prescription ofear drops containingalcohol; these canbe applied afterswimming, aiding the ear canal to dry rapidly.Unfortunately, despite good ear care and preventivemeasures, some of us won’t have an infection-freesummer, and will still develop swimmer’s ear. It isimperative to remember that there are endless causesof earache, and that different types of ear infectionsrequire different forms of treatment. One shouldtherefore never take any medications of one’s ownaccord, except for over-the-counter pain relief. The firststep should always be a proper medical assessment atyour doctor’s clinic or health centre, to ensure accuratediagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment.L&s | august ’08 25

| BITS |THE FIVE SENSES AT ST. JAMESsight · Pictures in my mindSt. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity Upper Galleries1 st September – 30 th SeptemberThe sight project supported by British Council Malta,is bringing together 12 young people from Malta andthe Maltese-Arab and Maltese-Indian communitiestogether with youths from China, Eritrea, andSudan currently living in Malta. In recent months,art photographer Patrick Fenech has been trainingthem in the basic techniques of photography. The youths will presenttheir photographic work in a collective exhibition based on how they viewMaltese culture, filtered through the lens of their own background.Based on the principal of silhouettes and montage, the exhibition willemphasise diversity in the human figure with strong features portraying thevarious races working in a team to show ‘pictures in their minds.LIFEBITSSummer dazzlingSummer is all about feeling and looking good. It brings to mindglowing skin, shiny hair and fresh smiles. Indulge in these beautyproducts that are sure to help you dazzle all summer long.Confidence in your smileTooth staining may be caused by eating certain foods and drinksand using tobacco. Stains on the surface reduce the naturalwhiteness of your smile.• Crest 3D White has been clinically tested to gently restorethe natural whiteness of teeth while providing unsurpassedcavity protection.• Oral B Advantage 3D White is proven to clean and whitenas the bristles help to hold toothpaste to effectively cleanaway stains for a naturally whiter smile.AfemininetouchJust one stroke fora close shave andsilky smooth skin,The Original 3 bladeVenus razor Soft hasprotective cushionsthat gently smooth outyour skin leaving itsilky to the touch.EVENINGS ON CAMPUSGoes to VALLETTA!Evenings on Campus, the Summer festival for culturalevents, is in its 16th edition. It comprises five films, twoliterary evenings, one Italian play, a contemporary danceand a musical event.The activities, which will commence on the 4th August andfinish on the 30th August, will be held in Valletta, at the OldUniversity Courtyardand all start at2030hrs. The venuechosen this yearis not just centralbut it will provide ahistorical backdropto all our events.This courtyard willhelp provide the rightintimacy to build a linkbetween the artist andthe viewer.Evenings onCampus hasbecome a regularand appreciatedaddition to Malta’ssummer cultural life.One of the main objectives has always been to animatecampus by involving the students, lecturers and staffand to offer a venue to whoever felt they had a talent,whether it was artisticor organisational. Students’ ideas were always acceptedwith enthusiasm and made possible through funding bythe University of Malta with the Koperattiva’s resources,expertise and contacts and the help of sponsors.Tickets available from www.maltaticket.com andthe following outlets: Vodafone; Exotique; Agenda;NewsKiosk, Bookends & at the door.L&s | august ’08 27

| FASHION |ICONICfashion shootsThe fleetingness and frivolity of fashion is the flossyside of significant social commentary. By Noemi Zarb.above: Diva glam in‘50s ParisRight, Clockwise:Gloria Swanson– the undisputedHollywood Queenin the ‘20s; Voguecover in the‘60s; Pilar Crespilounging in Kriziaswimwear inTrinocamalee, SriLanka with pure‘80s decadence;Today’s exotictouch witha hint of Zenwhich Parkinsoncaptured in one ofhis last shotsAnd this goes well beyond drawing parallelsbetween the direction of hemlines and economictrends. Indeed catwalks, the high street, plus thegarb people actually wear, offer the most accuratesocial index in all spheres of human activity. Sowhile fashion images strive to tout showstoppersand sell, sell, sell, the story does not begin or endwith the women (and men) posing in front of thelens. The top-notch fingers that click designers,models and themselves to fame have a keeneye on history in the making as much as onwhat’s in front of them.The lives and achievements of fashionphotographers therefore throw open more thananecdotal trivia on the frenetic world of fashion. Oneof my favourites is Norman Parkinson (1913-1990).A physical and artistic giant, his shots were lightyearsahead of his peers because he was the first tobreak away from the stiff poses that dominated studioshots of the 1930s. Unlike Cecil Beaton and Horst hedumped all sense of stasis and entrenched artificialityby photographing women outdoors talking, laughingand moving about as they do in real life. “Make yoursnaps full of happiness and sunshine and joy anddesirability,” was his constant advice. He didn’t alwaysstrike a happy pose, but he never failed to integratemodel and location in a way that also communicatedthe spirit of the times.Revolutionary in their playfulness and wit, bothhis monochrome and colour photographs capturedfashion-making moments as well as marking a turningpoint in the genre of fashion and portrait photography.Along the way he shot the most glamorous womenof the 20 th century - including Ava Gardner, MarleneDietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Iman andJerry Hall. He was also commissioned to photographthe Queen, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaretas well as Margaret Thatcher. Editors loved and trustedParkinson’s work to the point of funding expensiveshoots without question. He never let them down,meaning his covers and shots for Vogue, Harper’sBazaar, Queen and Town and Country had the magazinesflying off the shelves and readers crying out for more. Healso is the uncanny eye behind many shots of the iconicPirelli calendar.Parkinson’s work conveys the zeitgeist of a 50-yeartime span kick-starting with the sophistication of postwarelegance, followed by the spin of London’s swingingsixties, and the seductiveness of the logo-obsessedeighties. With his shots invariably starring the clothes,Norman Parkinson leaves no doubt of the conflationbetween fashion and social barometers. These are shotsthat don’t just appeal to people ‘in fashion’.In a career that spanned seven decades Parkinson hadthe verve to keep on revving up the glamour, the humourand the spontaneity which inspired his shots though healways claimed that he never changed his style. Avedon,Bailey and Testino eventually gave him a good run for hismoney, yet Parkinson’s unwavering pulse to flash and clickon some delicious tease redefined fashion photography,and continues to be a seminal influence.L&s | august ’08 29

| CROSSWORD |CROSSWORDPRIZESPACEVILLE · Tel. 21388545Tip-Top SportsTel. 2180 3381THIS MONTH’S PRIZES1st prize: Weekend Break for 2 at the Alexandra Palace Hotel2nd prize: JB Stores €20 voucher3rd prize: Pizza for 4 from Buon Caffé, St Julian’s4th prize: €35 voucher from Salon Services5th prize: ProAb machines - €65 – Tip-Top SportsAcross1 & 22. The Please and Thank-Youassociation? (6,7)3. Moisture suspended in the air in theform of clouds (6)7. King of Israel, son and successor ofDavid (7)8. Jewelled band worn by a woman at thefront of her hair on her wedding day (5)9. Wear away gradually by rubbing orcorroding (5)10. Mo, Les and Edna provide soft drinks (9)11 & 18. It’s object is to improve the outlookfor women (6,9)12. Something difficult to deal with orunderstand (7)13. The kind of pie for a country residence (7)15. Season before winter (6)18. See 11 across20. Small herring-like fish (5)21. Cry -----: give signal to army to seizespoil (5)22. See 1 across23. Garden plant with crispy green leaves used insalads (6)24. Business or love matter (6)Down1. Twelfth sign of the zodiac (6)2. Fine silky net material used for veils andwedding dresses (5)3. Poisonous fluid produced by certain snakesand scorpions (5)4 & 12. Apply what’s learnt when given aprofessional position? (7)5. He’s got a job to do (8)6. Money that has to be paid for a captive to beset free (6)7. An inclined surface made by broken poles? (5)12. See 4 down13. (Of a tune) easy to remember (6)14. Make it clear in a written piece (7)16. Cheerful and lively (5)17. One who tends or adds fuel to a furnace or fire (6)19. Short piece of prose writing (5)20. Cornwise, a bundle (5)Last month’s WINNERS1st prize: MARIA MULA, Zurrieq2nd prize: JENNIFER MIFSUD, B'Kara3rd prize: KEITH VELLA LICARI, Sliema4th prize: PAULINE BORG, Attard5th prize: K. DEBATTISTA, FguraLast month’s solutionAcross – 1. Crunch; 3. Loiter; 7 & 12 down. Too good to betrue; 8. Salvo; 9 & 18. Under the carpet; 10 & 24. Dangerous corner;11. Presto; 12. Tedious; 13. Burglar; 15. Beetle; 18. See 9; 20. Model;21. Elope; 22. Trustee; 23. Morsel; 24. See 10.Down – 1. Colour; 2. Choir; 3. Laden; 4. Instead; 5 & 6. Holdyour horses; 7. Tudor; 12. See 7 across; 13. Bathes; 14. Leaders; 16.Ladle; 17. Player; 19. Petal; 20. Motto.Send in the correct answer to:Life&Style Crossword Competition, media.link Communications,Triq Herbert Ganado, Pietà, PTA 1450.Send in your correct entries by 26 August 2008.L&s | august ’08 31

| FOOD |LIGHTSUMMERFAREby Gloria MizziThe recipes I chose for thismonth are all very quick and easyto make. This is what makesthem ideal for the hot weatherwe usually experience at thistime of the year. Who wants tospend hours over a hot stoveand then face a messy kitchento clear? No one; and yours trulyis no exception. However, I makesure there is always somethingappetising from the refrigeratorto put on the table, apart fromloads of fruit and vegetableswhich can be quickly transformedinto tantalising salads.Baked ftira with different fillings of your choice makesan excellent starter and comes in handy as a suppersnack.The tuna fish mould can be prepared a day aheadand makes a complete meal accompanied by a salad.It is also ideal to serve at a buffet party.Nothing beats a good plate of pasta. So try thistypical Sicilian recipe of spaghetti with anchovies.Pine nuts and raisins or sultanas are often included inSicilian cookery; they give a rich taste to what wouldotherwise be considered a poor dish.And finally, a favourite dessert of mine - the Granitadi caffe’ con panna’. Satisfying, thirst quenching andoh! So luscious!L&s | august ’08 33

| food |photographs by paul mizzi @ The FotoGraferFTIRA 'MY WAY'Delicious as a hearty snack or ideal as a starter for a rustic meal, you simply cannotresist this ftira! Try it with different fillings of your choice. A favourite with myfamily is a tomato, ham and cheese filling.Ingredients: 1 large ftira; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 tsp tomato paste(kunserva); 8 slices fried aubergines (1 aubergine); 8 slices tomatoes (3 tomatoes);8 slices cheddar cheese (each slice 3cm x 8cm); 8 black olives, stoned and halved; 4anchovy fillets, cut in half; 2 tsp dried or fresh oregano.PASTA WITHANCHOVIES ANDBREADCRUMBSThis recipe comes straight from the heart of Sicilian peasant cooking – pooringredients but very tasty. There are different versions of this pasta dish. Some arewith tomatoes and oregano, or just a nugget of tomato paste. The pine nuts andraisins version is a slightly richer version. Try it and I am sure you will enjoy it!Method: Cut open the ftira; sprinkle both halves with the olive oil and spread thetomato paste. Arrange all the other ingredients on just the bottom half of the ftiraand sprinkle the oregano over it. Cover the ftira with the top half.Wrap it in foil and bake it in a hot oven for about 10 minutes, until crispy and thecheese has melted. Serve hot or just warm.Serves 4Ingredients: 400g spaghetti or bucatini; 8 tbsp olive oil; 4 large garlic cloves,squashed but still whole; 200g fresh breadcrumbs; 8 anchovy fillets, chopped; ahandful of pine nuts and raisins; 2 tbsp chopped parsley; peperoncino or blackpepper; salt to taste.Method: Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted, boiling water. In the meantimeheat half of the oil in a frying pan, and gently sauté the garlic until it begins tocolour, and then discard. Increase the heat a little; add the breadcrumbs and pinenuts and cook, stirring until they are golden crisp. Remove them with a slotted spoonand set aside.Add the rest of the oil to the pan and cook the anchovies and pre-soaked raisins overa low heat, until the anchovies start to dissolve. Return the breadcrumbs and pinenuts to the pan, stir in the parsley and check for seasoning.Drain the pasta but reserve a little cooking water to add in case the anchovy andcrumb sauce seems dry. Toss the sauce and pasta together, mix well and serve.Grillo 2007,Cantine Rallo(Sicily)Ideal as an aperitif or as an accompanimentto light first courses and seafood. Thisdelicately pale and harmonious white wine isproduced using the Inzolia and Chardonnaygrapes grown on south facing slopes topreserve freshness and aroma.Vesco Bianco 2006,Cantine Rallo (Sicily)The white flowers and the fruits that send backto the citruses, grapefruit and lime, composethe rich bouquet of this perfectly balanced andharmonic wine. As an aperitif, it also goes wellwith first and second courses and fish meals.34 L&s | august ’08

| food |TUNA MOULDThis is an easy way to prepare an ideal summer dish! I find this recipe very easyto make and it will surely be appreciated by all. The ingredients are simple but theresult is very appetising and attractive.Serves 6Ingredients: 600g potatoes; 400g canned tuna in oil; 1 small onion, grated; 100gblack olives, chopped; 2 hard-boiled eggs; 1 tbsp parsley, chopped; salt and pepperto taste.coffe granitaUnlike sorbet, granita is a crunchy frozen half ice, half drink dessert, with a granulartexture that is surprisingly refreshing on the sultriest of summer days. Coffee granitais normally served with a generous dollop of sweetened, freshly whipped cream.Serves 8Ingredients: 75g finely ground coffee; 50g demerara sugar; 1 ltr boiling water; 1tbsp anisette or sambuca (optional); 300 ml whipping cream, chilled; 2 teaspoonscaster sugar.ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF THESE RECIPES HAVE BEEN KINDLY SUPPLIED BY GALA SUPERMARKET OF TESTAFERRATA STREET, MSIDA.For the garnish: mayonnaise and slices of cucumber.Method: Boil the potatoes, drain, cool, peel and mash with a fork or potato masher.Put aside in a bowl. Flake the tuna and add to the potatoes. Add the grated onionand chopped olives and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.Put half the mixture on a serving plate and with your hands mould it into an oblongshape. Place the hard-boiled eggs in the middle and then cover with the rest of thepotato mixture. Give the roll a fish shape with your hands and the help of a palette.Put in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set.To garnish the fish shape, cover with mayonnaise and decorate with thin slices ofcucumber. Return to the refrigerator until it is time to serve. This tuna mould is bestaccompanied by a green salad.Vesco Rosso 2005,Cantine Rallo(Sicily)Coming from a careful selection of Nerod’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, VescoRosso is matured in French oak barriques for8 months. With suggestions of cherry wellcombined with spices, it is excellent withroast, game and hard cheeses.Method: Mix the coffee and demerara sugar in a jug, pour on the boiling water andleave for 4 minutes, then stir thoroughly. Leave to infuse until it becomes cold.Strain the coffee into a shallow metal or plastic container, add the anisette orsambuca, and freeze for 1 hour until it becomes just firm at the edges and slightlyliquid at the centre. Break up the mixture with a fork to break up all the crystals.Return to the freezer for another 30 minutes or so. Stir again with a fork.Spoon the crystals in a heavy polythene bag, seal and return to the freezer.Before serving, chill the glasses. Transfer the coffee crystals from the freezer to therefrigerator about 10 minutes before required.Whip the cream in a bowl with the caster sugar. Spoon 2 alternate layers of coffeecrystals and 2 of cream in each glass, beginning with the coffee and finishing withthe cream.You can freeze the granita for up to 2 months.Zibibbo 2006,Cantine Rallo(Sicily)Elegant and aromatic wine.Produced from Zibibbo Vinesin modern ways following oldprocedures. Ideally served withsweets and typical Sicilian sweets.All the wines are imported and distributed by Mirachem Marketing Limited. For more information, please call 21214434 or visit www.mirachemltd.comL&s | august ’08 35

| TV |“IS-SIĠILL TAL-QRAR”on NEt tvThis year’s autumn will herald in a new drama on NETTelevision. This is “Is-Siġill tal-Qrar” produced by Horizons,originally penned by Jesmond Kris Bugeja and beingdirected by the well known actor turned director, IvanDe Battista. For Horizons, this is the first time they areproducing a drama for television and are very enthusiasticabout this new project.Kenneth Mizzi, one of the producers said that the show is interesting becauseof its many plots and sub-plots. In the genre of a whodunit, during the courseof the drama series, one of the characters is murdered. It is up to the audienceto play the role of investigator and solve the mystery by patching together theclues.The first episode opens with the return of a monk from missionary work in SouthAmerica to visit his dying mother. The cleric, Fr Emilio Bernardi is played by theauthor himself. However, as the story ensues, many questions spring to life; whatis the real reason for the priest’s return ? Prior to joining the priesthood, Fr Bernardihad read for a lawyer’s degree, but had never practised law.Parallel to the missioners’ tale, the narrative continues with a couple’s maritalstruggles. Their marriage hits rock bottom when it surfaces that the lady of thehouse, Tiffany is cheating on her husband, Dr Ralph Naudi. It becomes apparentthat none of them are keen to resolve their matrimonial crisis until….Tiffany falls pregnant but is not sure who the father is. Her affair is with herbrother-in- law (played by Andre Penza), also husband of Tiffany’s best friend, Stacy(Simone De Battista). Stacy is in the dark about Tiffany’s lover’s identity, althoughshe is aware that Tiffany is pregnant. Tiffany decides to terminate the pregnancyand seeks illicit help. However on the eleventh hour,she changes heart and walks out. Without having paidher dues, the culprit giving a ‘helping hand’ declaresrevenge. The couple (Ralph and Tiffany) is played byRennie Schembri and Marilyn Custo’.Dr Naudi asks for the assistance of Fr Bernardi torepresent him in court in the case asking for separationfrom his wife. Fr Bernardi refuses, and recommendsseeking out help to straighten out the couple’sdifferences. The doctor rebuffs the offer and warnsthat failing to be his legal representative will have itsconsequences.Melissa a mother of 6 young kids is a patient of DrRalph Naudi and has been under his care for severalmonths. Melissa needs an urgent operation with Dr.Naudi insists on it being done in a private hospital. Herhusband, Neville who is unemployed shrugs off theproposal and is adamant for his wife to get the samesurgery at the general hospital. After an unfortunateincident, Neville decides to take the law into his ownhands.This is a broad drama with lots of characters. Inthe main roles are several well known actors, both onstage and on t.v. - Pat Mahoney, Rina Camilleri, PeterBorg, Charles Sammut, Gwido Fenech, Fredrick Testa,Fabian Scerri de Carlo. Other new talent is being castfollowing auditions.Mr Mizzi concludes that Horizons promises to giveits viewers an exciting drama to watch, waiting eagerlyfor more after each episode. More information can befound at www.horizons.com.mt.L&s | august ’08 37

| RADIO |ChartActionEric Montfort on the new vibrant Chartshow on Radio 101Many years ago, it was a joy to tune in to theBBC for the UK Top 20 charts, either by meansof shortwave radio, through Rediffusion - thecable radio supplier - or through BFBS, theBritish Forces radio which closed down in1979. Back then, it was the most followedchart show in the world with around 50 millionlisteners per week.Rediffusion also used to broadcast the US chartsthrough Billboard magazine – which is still today avery authoritative source for the American charts.In the late 1960s and early 1970s, DJs like JohnnyWalker, Paul Burnett, the late Stuart Henry and TommyVance attracted numerous listeners thanks to theBBC or through the programmes that at the time weresyndicated to various radio stations, including BFBS.Things have changed considerably since; moreand more, it’s the impersonal world of internet radio,web-streaming and cable TV – the likes of MTV - thatdetermine what gets played, and with the onset ofdownloading, sales have literally plummeted. Sufficeit to say that sales of just 10,000 copies would beenough to see an artist make the top spot in the UKcharts. In the US, the norm is around 50,000, when 20years ago, it would have required ten times as manysales to make it to the top three. Also gone are thedays where one could enjoy following their favouritesongs make their way up and down in an orderly, attimes surprising fashion, especially in Britain. Now, asong may enter the top spot and the following week,it would make a quick slide out of the top ten, neverto be heard of again. A mixture of airplay and (legal)download surveys, as well as the old formal returnsof records’ sales (albeit in a much diminished form),have lately stabilised this whirlwind trend in the UKsingles’ charts, however, a lot of people have resignedthemselves to the fact that the singles’ charts are notwhat they used to be.It’s safe to say that chart performance today alsodepends on live concerts, with attendances and recordsales during these events contributing greatly to anartist’s income. Moreover, we have also experienceda trend that has also gained a lotof ground overseas - theemphasis on airplay charts.Many radio stations have takenthe cue from US stations andhave now been compiling theirown airplay charts according tolisteners’ wishes.Radio 101 is no exception.Every Sunday, until the end ofsummer, Frank Zammit is hostingThe Chartshow, a programmethat delves into the UK, Italianand American charts, besidesproviding Radio 101’s own airplaycharts. Frank also makes it apoint to include retro-charts too,as great pop music is still popularwith Radio 101’s listeners. Frankalso admits that thecharts were moreintriguing then, withartists succeedingin crossing over todifferent charts, aswas the case withMichael Jacksonwith Dirty Diana20 years ago.“Now, with morefragmentation, itis more difficultto do so. Onthe other hand,hosting theRadio 101 charts alsogives an insight to artists like Peter Mraz who havefound the going quite tough in other charts.” I alsoremember the time when there used to be a Maltesenational chart too, but now, in a thoroughly differentscenario, attempting to revive such a chart is an evenmore difficult task!The Chart Show is on air on Radio 101 at 15.30hours every Sunday.top: dizzee rascallcurrently atnumber one in theUK charts with thesong Dance WivMe in conjunctionwith Harris andChrome.above: presenterFrank Zammit38 L&s | august ’08