First Magazine April 2023 Issue No341 SPRING AFFAIR

ISSUE 341 APRIL 2023
A CAPSULE OF THE WORLD
SPRING AFFAIR
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust

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“Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.”
Marcel Proust
EDITORIAL
MEMORY
SPRING AFFAIR
“Our memory is like a shop in the window of which is exposed now one, now another photograph of the same
person. And as a rule the most recent exhibit remains for some time the only one to be seen.”
“Even though our lives wander, our memories remain in one place.”
“The places we have known do not belong solely to the world of space in which we situate them for our greater
convenience. They were only a thin slice among contiguous impressions which formed our life at that time; the memory of
a certain image is but regret for a certain moment; and houses, roads, avenues are as fleeting, alas, as the years.”
“We exist only by virtue of what we possess, we possess only what is really present to us, and many of our memories, our
moods, our ideas sail away on a voyage of their own until they are lost to sight! Then we can no longer take them into
account in the total which is our personality. But they know of secret paths by which to return to us.”
“The bonds between ourselves and another person exists only in our minds. Memory as it grows fainter loosens them, and
notwithstanding the illusion by which we want to be duped and which, out of love, friendship, politeness, deference, duty,
we dupe other people, we exist alone. Man is the creature who cannot escape from himself, who knows other people only
in himself, and when he asserts the contrary, he is lying.”
Marcel Proust
ON THE COVER AND THIS PAGE: Photography Anita Austvika.
EDITORIAL CONTENT AND SALES MANAGER SEAN ELLUL SELLUL@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT DESIGNER CONRAD BONDIN
CBONDIN@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDRE CAMILLERI ACAMILLERI@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PUBLISHER STANDARD
PUBLICATIONS, STANDARD HOUSE, BIRKIKARA HILL, ST JULIAN’S. TEL: 00356 2134 5888, WEB: WWW.INDEPENDENT.COM.MT
FACEBOOK FIRSTMAGAZINE INSTAGRAM FIRSTMAGAZINEMALTA PRINTER PRINT-IT. FIRST IS PUBLISHED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE
WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY. NO PART OF THE PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED
WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE PUBLISHER.
FIRST MAGAZINE SINCE 1993. ISSUE NUMBER 341.
3

CONTENTS
6
LA DOLCE VITA. Slow Travel. Cruising in France through Champagne,
Burgundy and Provence. Top deck on the Coquelicot – A Belmond Boat,
Champagne. Photograph © Belmond
44
THiS
IS
WiNE
15th chapter in
this issue
EXCLUSIVE SERIES: THIS IS WINE. Super Tuscans. Kings of the Hill. Bolgheri contains some
of the most prized vineyards in the whole of Tuscany. Photography Marco Giuseppe Timelli.

28
17
CONTENTS
KING CHARLES III. Countdown to Coronation.
Portrait of HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales,
Buckingham Palace, 1972. Photography Allan Warren
INTERIORS. The Kaleidoscopic World of Luke Edward Hall.
Photography Billal Taright, courtesy Vendome Press.
CONTENTS
[ISSUE 341. APRIL 2023]
6
LA DOLCE VITA
Slow Travel.
Cruising in France through
Champagne, Burgundy and Provence.
17
CORONATION
King Charles III.
Countdown to Coronation.
28
INTERIORS
A Kind of Magic.
The Kaleidoscopic World
of Luke Edward Hall.
38
BEAUTY
Les Beiges Summer-To-Go.
CHANEL Essentials.
40
ART AUCTION
Lyrical Fantastical Compositions.
Chagall et la Musique.
44
THIS IS WINE
The 15th Chapter in This is Wine:
Its Storied Place and Taste.
Super Tuscans. Kings of the Hill.
54
BRUNCH
An Easy, Pleasant Way to Entertain.
Let’s do Brunch.
62
RETIREMENT PLANNING
ĠEMMA – Pensions and Retirement.
Why Compound Interest Matters.
66
HEALTH & FITNESS
ACTIVE AGEING
Refurbishment of Dar Il-Mistrieħ,
Floriana.
CareMalta – Aging in a
Better Environment.
72
ENVIRONMENT
WORLD EARTH DAY
Sustainable Spaces – Urban Greening.
Malta International Airport’s Journey
to Net Zero.
Citadel Insurance – Promoting
Sustainability at Every Turn.
Financial Incentives – Cleaner,
Greener, Sustainable Transport
86
EXHIBITION
Saint Francis of Assisi at the
National Gallery London.
40
AUCTION Chagall et la Musique.
Marc CHAGALL, L'Ange devant l'Opéra – 1981
© Christie’s Images Limited 2023.
54
Let's do Brunch. Photography Micheile Henderson.

LA DOLCE VITA
“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.”
Laura Gilpin
LES BATEAUX BELMOND
Slow Travel Reimagined
TOP-DECK LIFESTYLE, BESPOKE ITINERARIES AND AN EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
WORLD’S OLDEST CHAMPAGNE HOUSE, MAISON RUINART, TAKE TRAVELLERS DEEPER
INTO THE EFFERVESCENCE OF CHAMPAGNE
Belmond has been a pioneer of luxury travel for over 45 years with a portfolio of one-of-a-kind
experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations. Since the acquisition of Venice's iconic
Hotel Cipriani in in 1976, Belmond has continued to perpetuate the legendary art of travel. This spring
Belmond is launching a new luxury barge, part of its unmatched French collection: Coquelicot, A Belmond
Boat, Champagne. From May, Coquelicot will take guests on a cinematic and highly personalised journey
of Champagne, as the boat glides along the region’s canals from Épernay to Sillery, unveiling exquisite
views from a unique vantage point. Photography courtesy Belmond.
6
This page: The lounge’s sensational skylight is a celebration of Champagne’s water mapping legacy. The barge’s interiors and exteriors capture the essence of Champagne,
with nods to the region’s hues and character.

LA DOLCE VITA
7

LA DOLCE VITA
8
This page: Featuring three glamorous cabins with ensuite facilities and an indoor salon with an exceptional champagne bar,
Coquelicot sets a new standard of sophistication for slow-paced sailing in France.

LA DOLCE VITA
COQUELICOT. THE FRENCH
WORD FOR “RED POPPY”
Designed by successful French duo, Monaco
based Humbert & Poyet, to complement the
ever-changing views and create an intimate
sanctuary on the water, Coquelicot boasts an
impressive outdoor deck, three double cabins with
marble ensuite bathrooms, and an indoor lounge for
dining and recharging. The boat’s Art Nouveau
interior design inspiration captures the essence of
Champagne, with nods to the region’s hues and
character. Local fabrics in earthy tones and raw
materials reflect Champagne’s agricultural heritage,
while fluted walls, decadent interiors and pieces of art
pay homage to the land’s glorious present. Coquelicot’s
namesake, the red poppy, can be found in subtle
references such as the hand-cut red marble side tables
and the tone-on-tone hand-painted petals that line the
hallway, while the lounge’s sensational skylight is a
celebration of Champagne’s water mapping legacy.
9

LA DOLCE VITA
Above and below: Coquelicot's extensive outdoor deck for relaxing pursuits, sensational dining and sparkling conversations. Antique lighting and iconic furnishings create a space of
enduring style, while potted herbs, wildflowers and other useful blooms hem the fringes, rooting the space in the locality.
10
The vessel’s top deck is the jewel in
the crown: two seating lounges,
an open kitchen and a shaded
dining area offer a choice of spaces to
unwind and laze around while
meandering the calm waterways, framed
by potted herbs and wildflowers that root
the space in the locality.
As part of the collaboration between
Belmond and Maison Ruinart,
Coquelicot’s guests can enjoy unrivalled
access to Taissy vineyard, referenced as
early as 1733 in the Maison’s archives,
while enjoying a technical tasting of iconic
Maison Ruinart cuvées. Back on board
Coquelicot Maison Ruinart’s Chef, Valérie
Radou, and Coquelicot’s Head Chef will
work hand in hand to prepare an
exceptional five-course lunch on the boat’s
cinematic top deck. A true lesson in
French art de vivre, this dining experience
includes five seasonal dishes inspired by
regional cuisine and paired with
prestigious cuvées such as Dom Ruinart
Blanc de Blancs and Dom Ruinart Rosé.
Framed by the idyllic landscape and in the
comfort and privacy of their own luxury
boat, guests will delve deep into the world
of Maison Ruinart, as their ambassador
reveals the story, characteristics and
technical aspects of each bottle.

LA DOLCE VITA
Guests of Coquelicot can craft their own itinerary by selecting unique activities – whether it’s an art-focused tour
of Champagne, a historic voyage through the mighty castles, an active adventure on two wheels or a series of
epicurean visits to Europe’s most celebrated and most secret wine producers, guests will have the liberty to
design their own journey and marvel at the region’s treasures at their own pace. Bon-vivants are invited to embrace the
conviviality which permeates the locale, and alternate an al fresco soirée on the top deck with an off board Michelinstarred
restaurant experience or a less inhibited dinner in one of the quaint villages scattered across the region.
Top and Left: Roomy,
indulgent cabins epitomise
French style, creating a graceful
sanctuary on the water. Local
fabrics in earthy tones and raw
materials reflect Champagne’s
agricultural heritage.
12

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LA DOLCE VITA
Above: Marble ensuite bathrooms to the cabins provide a spa-like feel on board. The combination of contemporary
furnishings and antique touches combine to offer an ageless vision of French refinement.
Days of discoveries are followed by
memorable nights aboard the new
barge. After a refreshing aperitivo
by the boat’s Champagne bar – stocked with
a curated selection of the guests’ preferred
labels –the private Chef will serve a menu of
sophisticated dishes, prepared using the
finest seasonal ingredients from trusted local
suppliers.
When sleep beckons and nighttime slows
down return to the intimate sanctuary of
your bedroom, where the motion of the boat
rocks you to sleep as it makes its way under
the stars along the canals to the village of
Sillery.
Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne is
part of Les Bateaux Belmond, the brand’s
unrivalled collection of boats in France. The
fleet includes: Alouette, A Belmond Boat,
Canal Du Midi; Pivoine, A Belmond Boat,
Camargue; Napoléon, A Belmond Boat,
Provence; Amaryllis, A Belmond Boat,
Burgundy; Fleur De Lys, A Belmond Boat,
Burgundy; Lilas, A Belmond Boat, Burgundy.
14

The EU
Social Climate
Fund
davidcasa.eu
ESPERJENZA LI TIRNEXXI
"With the Social Climate Fund,
we have achieved investments
for citizens across Malta & Gozo
that will fund more solar
panels, more energy efficient
appliances, better insulation,
and greener alternatives to
transport."
- MEP David Casa,
Lead negotiator for the Social Climate Fund

CORONATION
KING CHARLES III
Countdown to Coronation
The coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom
and the other Commonwealth realms will take place on 6th May 2023 at London's Westminster
Abbey and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Charles acceded to the throne on
8th September 2022 upon the death of his mother Elizabeth II. There is a never a moment when
the United Kingdom doesn't have a monarch – when a monarch dies, the heir to the throne
immediately becomes the new King or Queen. This process is ‘Accession’, and a monarch
acquires all of the status and authority of a Sovereign from the very moment of accession.
Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066. When King Charles is crowned,
he will be the 40th reigning monarch to have a coronation service at the Abbey.
This page: King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort pose for a photo in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
Photography Hugo Burnand/Buckingham Palace via AP.
17

CORONATION
THE GREEN MAN
Official Invitation
The invitation for the Coronation is alive with emblematic flowers and wildlife. Designed by heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator
Andrew Jamieson, the invitations will be printed on a recycled card with gold foil detailing. Central to the design is the motif of the
Green Man in a nod to the monarch’s record of supporting conservation and environmental protection. The Green Man is an ancient
figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign. The shape of the Green Man, crowned in natural foliage,
is formed of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom. The British wildflower meadow bordering
the invitation features lily of the valley, cornflowers, wild strawberries, dog roses, bluebells, and a sprig of rosemary for remembrance, together
with wildlife including a bee, a butterfly, a ladybird, a wren and a robin. Flowers appear in groupings of three, signifying The King becoming
the third monarch of his name. A lion, a unicorn and a boar - taken from the coats of arms of the Monarch and Her Majesty’s father, Major
Bruce Shand - can be seen amongst the flowers. Her Majesty’s arms are now enclosed by the Garter, following her installation as a Royal Lady
of the Order of the Garter last summer.
18
This page: The invitation for the Coronation, designed by Andrew Jamieson. Photography Buckingham Palace via AP.

KING CHARLES III CORONATION COLLECTION
ONE OF
A NUMBER OF
COMMEMORATIVE
PIECES ARRIVING
SOON
Coronation Gold
Musical Box
A Limited Edition of 100
Plays ‘God Save The King’
D: 82mm H: 50mm
Gio. Batta Delia
ESTABLISHED 1901
MOB: 9989 6286
FACEBOOK GIO. BATTA DELIA 1901

CORONATION
THE CORONATION PROCESSION
The Gold State Coach
On the 6th May, King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in the
Diamond Jubilee State Coach drawn by six Windsor Greys. The coach was created for Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the
60th anniversary of Her late Majesty’s reign in 2012. The King’s Procession, accompanied by The Sovereign’s Escort of the
Household Cavalry, will depart Buckingham Palace and go along The Mall, down Whitehall and along Parliament Street, and around the east
and south sides of Parliament Square to arrive at Westminster Abbey. The King and the Queen Consort, in the Gold State Coach, and the
royal family will take the same route in reverse and return to Buckingham Palace in a larger ceremonial procession, known as
"The Coronation Procession". The Coronation Procession will include Armed Forces from across the Commonwealth and the British
Overseas Territories, and all Services of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, alongside The Sovereign’s Bodyguard and Royal
Watermen. The Gold State Coach was commissioned in 1760 and was first used by King George III, to travel to the State Opening of
Parliament in 1762. The coach has been used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831. The coach will be drawn by eight
Windsor Greys and, due to its weight of four tonnes, will travel at walking pace.
20

CORONATION
This page: The Gold State Coach on display at the Royal Mews in Buckingham Palace. Photography Yui Mok/PA via AP.
21

CORONATION
HEIR APPARENT
Since the Age of Three
Charles was born in Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, George VI, and was three when his mother, Elizabeth II,
acceded to the throne in 1952, making him the heir apparent. In 1958 he was made Prince of Wales and his investiture was held in 1969.
Like his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Charles was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun schools. After earning a Bachelor of
Arts degree from the University of Cambridge, he served in the Air Force and Navy from 1971 to 1976. In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer,
with whom he has two sons: William and Harry. In 1996, the couple divorced and Diana died in a car crash the following year. In 2005,
Charles married his long-term partner, Camilla Parker Bowles.
22
This page: Portrait of HRH Prince Charles Prince of Wales, taken in Buckingham Palace, 1972. Photography Allan Warren (source: Wikipedia).

INDIA COLLECTION
Gio. Batta Delia
ESTABLISHED 1901
MOB: 9989 6286
FACEBOOK GIO. BATTA DELIA 1901

CORONATION
CULLINAN III, IV AND V DIAMONDS
Queen Mary’s Crown
Queen Mary’s Crown, made by Garrard’s for the 1911 coronation and commissioned by Queen Mary, the consort of King George V,
will be used for the Coronation of The Queen Consort. The choice of Queen Mary’s Crown by Her Majesty is the first time in
recent history that an existing crown will be used for the Coronation of a Consort instead of a new commission being made, in the
interests of sustainability and efficiency. Some minor changes and additions will be undertaken by the Crown Jeweller, in keeping with the
longstanding tradition that the insertion of jewels is unique to the occasion, and reflects the Consort’s individual style. These changes will in
particular pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as the Crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds. The
diamonds were part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection for many years and were often worn by Her late Majesty as
brooches. The Cullinan diamonds have been set into Queen Mary’s Crown on previous occasions. Cullinan III and IV were set temporarily
in the Crown for the 1911 Coronation, and the Cullinan V was inserted when the Crown was worn as a regal circlet at King George VI’s
Coronation in 1937. In addition, four of the Crown’s eight detachable arches will be removed to create a different impression to when the
Crown was worn by Queen Mary at the 1911 Coronation. St Edward’s Crown will be used for the Coronation of His Majesty The King.
24
This page: William Downey (British, 1829 - 1915), photographer, Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, 1911. Gelatin silver print, 28.6 × 22.8 cm.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 84.XP.783.19.

CORONATION
THE CEREMONY
Westminster Abbey
The date for the coronation of King Charles III,
Saturday 6th May, falls just less than a month
before the 70th anniversary of the coronation of
Queen Elizabeth II who was crowned June 2, 1953.
Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since
1066, and King Charles III will be the 40th reigning
monarch to have a coronation service at the Abbey. The
first documented coronation held at Westminster was for
William the Conqueror on Christmas Day 1066, who
probably chose the Abbey for his coronation to reinforce
his claim to be a legitimate successor of Edward the
Confessor, the English king and saint who had re-founded
the Abbey. The Abbey's status as a house of kings also
influenced Henry III when he re-built Edward’s church in
the Gothic style of architecture from 1245. A large space –
or coronation theatre – was planned under the lantern,
between the quire and the High Altar. The first king to be
crowned in the present Abbey building was Edward I in
1274. The coronation is a solemn religious service, and since the late 14th
century every coronation has followed, to a greater or lesser extent, the
same order of service laid down in the medieval illuminated Latin
manuscript, the Liber Regalis (or ‘royal book’). The Liber Regalis is
thought to have been made for the coronation of Richard II’s queen, Anne
of Bohemia, in 1382. It includes instructions for the
crowning of a king, a queen, and a king and queen together.
The instructions reflect the service as it was performed until
the reign of Elizabeth I, and despite various changes after
that date the basic format has remained recognisable in all
subsequent coronation services. Among the elements of the
service which have endured is the anointing with holy oil. A
canopy is held over the monarch to shield this part of the
ceremony from the congregation as this, and not the
crowning, is the most sacred part of the service. The
Archbishop pours the oil from the ampulla – an eagleshaped
vessel – into the coronation spoon and anoints the
sovereign before they are invested with regalia and crowned.
The act of crowning takes place in the Coronation Chair,
which stands facing the High Altar. The Chair was made in
1300-1301, commissioned by Edward I to enclose the
famous Stone of Destiny – an ancient symbol of Scotland’s
monarchy which Edward had brought from Scotland to the
Abbey in 1296. Elaborately decorated with pieces of coloured glass and gold
leaf, the oak Chair was a magnificent, glittering piece of furniture. It has
suffered damage over the centuries and has lost much of its original
decoration, but remains at the heart of coronation ceremonies. Twenty-six
reigning monarchs are known to have been crowned in the Chair.
26
This page: The quire, lantern and High Altar, Westminster Abbey. Inset: From the 14th-century Liber Regalis - crowning of a king and queen.
Photography © Dean and Chapter of Westminster.

Gold
MELITA Gold
MALTA
This issue is available in four denominations; 1oz-€100,
1/2oz-€50, 1/4oz-€25 and 1/10oz-€10.
Melita coins are legal tender and classed as investment
gold, and their price is based primarily on the spot price
of gold on the international markets. These bullion coins
are exempt from any Value Added Tax.
Each coin is set in an individually numbered sealed
card that certifies the coin within.
Available online at www.maltacoins.com or
Lombard Bank, 67, Republic Street, Valletta
Real size illustrations
Weight Alloy Diameter Quality Face Value Thickness Edge Year of Issue
1oz 31.103g (1oz) Fine Gold 999.9 34mm Proof-like €100 1.78mm Milled 2022
1/2oz 15.55g (1/2oz) Fine Gold 999.9 27mm Proof-like €50 1.40mm Milled 2022
1/4oz 7.77g (1/4oz) Fine Gold 999.9 22mm Proof-like €25 1.06mm Milled 2022
1/10oz 3.110g (1/10oz) Fine Gold 999.9 16mm Proof-like €10 0.80mm Milled 2022
in collaboration with
www.lombardmalta.com • www.maltacoins.com

INTERIORS
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
W.B. Yeats
28

AN AESTHETIC CORNUCOPIA OF INTERIOR DESIGN INSPIRATION AND
ARTISTIC PASSION FROM LUKE EDWARD HALL, ONE OF TODAY’S MOST
COLOURFUL AND WHIMSICAL CREATIVE ICONS
A KIND OF MAGIC
THE KALEIDOSCOPIC WORLD OF LUKE EDWARD HALL
INTERIORS
Since bursting onto the London design scene in 2015, young English artist and designer Luke Edward Hall has
brought a characteristic verve to everything he touches. In this captivating new monograph A Kind of Magic,
published by Vendome Press, Hall shares the myriad influences that drive his prolific output, from local mythology
and folklore to 1980s pop music and all things Baroque, inviting us to peek inside the London home and Cotswolds
cottage that he shares with his husband Duncan Campbell, along with his countryside studio – the creative
laboratories that form the backdrop to his interior, product, and fashion design, and painting, drawing, and writing.
Photography Billal Taright, courtesy Vendome Press.
“Ispent many months
pondering the title of this
book. I love giving things
names and inventing stories,
but, as I usually find, it was hard to sum up a
lot of thoughts and feelings in a few short
words. After much to-ing and fro-ing with the
Vendome team, I settled on ‘A Kind of Magic’
because often, when I’m describing my work,
I end up shoehorning the word ‘magic’ in
somehow”, writes Luke Edward Hall.
29

INTERIORS
“Magic is about using powers to make things happen that would
normally be impossible. Magic is a special quality that makes
something seem different to the ordinary. Magic is elusive, curious,
not an everyday thing. Whenever I’m putting a room together, or painting a picture,
or designing an object, I’m hoping and praying I create something with that fleeting
quality, that sense of enchantment, that sprinkling of wonder. It’s about taking oneself
out of the everyday and instead inserting head and body and heart into someplace
more fantastical. It’s about atmosphere. Magic is what I’m always aiming for.”
30

New models on display at our Kitchen Expo
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INTERIORS
“Aside from all this, ‘A Kind of
Magic’ was one of my favourite
songs when I was a kid”, he
writes. Every August in drives down to the
North Devon coast from Hampshire with his
entire family, he would ask his aunt to play
the song on repeat on the journey. “I can’t
say that I was, or am, the biggest Queen fan,
but back then this particular song – for me,
at least – fizzed with magic and energy.”
32

INTERIORS
AKind of Magic is a true
celebration of Hall’s eclectic,
colourful universe, offering a
window into his singularly bold interior
design style – documented here by his
close friend and collaborator, Londonbased
photographer Billal Taright – and
the people, places, and things that inspire
him. Peppered with his trademark
drawings and paintings together with a
selection of his own memorabilia and an
assortment of short essays on his passions,
from flowers and gardens to cooking and
clothes, this treasury of delights invites us
to venture into the nostalgic, magical
realms of one of the design world’s
brightest voices.
35

INTERIORS
ABOUT THE AUTHORS.
Luke Edward Hall is an
English artist, designer, and
columnist. His philosophy is
shaped by his love of
storytelling and fantasy, and
his colourful work is often
inspired by history, filtered
through a lens of irreverent
romanticism. Since founding
his studio in 2015, he has
worked on a wide range of
commissions, from interior
design and fashion projects
to murals and illustration,
and collaborated with
numerous well-known
brands and institutions,
including Burberry, Lanvin, Ginori, Svenskt Tenn, and the Royal
Academy of Arts. His first book, Greco Disco, was published in
2019. In 2020 his first large interior design project was unveiled in
Paris – Hotel Les Deux Gares – and in 2022 he launched his own
fashion and homewares brand, Chateau Orlando. He exhibits his
work internationally with an Athens-based gallery, writes a column
for FT Weekend, and is currently working on a variety of new
projects.
Billal Taright is a London-based photographer renowned for his
striking interiors, fashion, still life, and portraiture. Successfully
straddling the interface of art and commercial photography, his
work has been featured internationally in publications ranging
from Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue to Cabana and AD, with fashion
collaborations including Hermès, Diane Von Furstenberg, and
many more.
A Kind of Magic - The Kaleidoscopic World of Luke Edward Hall by
Luke Edward Hall. Photography by Billal Taright. Foreword by Nicky
Haslam. Published by Vendome Press. Hardcover, 256 pages, 250
colour illustrations.
36

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BEAUTY
38

BEAUTY
CHANEL SUMMER
LES BEIGES
SUMMER-TO-GO
Back in 1927, Mademoiselle Chanel bet on the on-the-go lifestyle, supporting women as their way of
living evolved. Ever the innovator, she decided to make her line of skincare and makeup products
available in smaller sizes. Daily essentials that could easily be slipped into a handbag, evening clutch, or
small piece of luggage for spur-of-the moment getaways. CHANEL was inspired by these formats, which
are as fun as they are practical, for its 2023 LES BEIGES collection. The House has revisited its iconic
LES BEIGES products, offering them in limited-edition travel sizes. The LES BEIGES Summer To-Go
collection captures the very essence of a radiant complexion and a healthy glow makeup look in
miniature formats. As sensorial and intuitive as ever, LES BEIGES essentials are the perfect companions
for achieving a fresh, luminous glow, anytime and for any occasion. Photography CHANEL.
A HINT OF FRESHNESS IN A BOTTLE
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complexion product infused with microdroplet pigments that leave a nearly imperceptible,
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Left: LES BEIGES ILLUMINATING OIL 50ML – LES BEIGES HEALTHY GLOW BRONZING CREAM – LES BEIGES WATER-FRESH TINT. Centre: LES
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LAQUE – ROUGE COCO FLASH – ROUGE COCO BAUME. Right: ROUGE COCO FLASH – ROUGE COCO BAUME
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COMPLEXION
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up the skin, creating the illusion
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When applied to the cheeks, nose,
forehead, and décolleté using the fingers or
a brush, this cream-gel bronzer delivers an
ultra-natural makeup look. It is available in
3 shades for a customizable sun-kissed
glow.
SUMMER ON
YOUR SKIN
Atrue light catcher, LES BEIGES
ILLUMINATING OIL Travel Size
(50 ml) envelops the skin, leaving
it with an iridescent shimmer.
Enriched with jasmine oil, it gives skin a
slightly coppery, golden glow. Apply to the
face, shoulders, décolleté, arms, and hair
for instant radiance.
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HARMONY
OF LIGHTS
OMBRE PREMIÈRE LAQUE coats
lids with a golden shimmer and is
featured in two iconic jewel tones:
Rayon, a soft, luminous beige, and
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COCO BAUME delivers a light, fresh lip
look with two new shades: Pink Delight, an
ultra-natural, soft pink, and Sweet Treat, a
semi-matte brownish mauve. To round off
this sun-kissed look, CHANEL has
designed two new shades of ROUGE
COCO FLASH with evocative names.
Destination, a rosy beige that enhances lips
with its nude shimmer, and Escapade, a
slightly warm sienna red.
39

ART AUCTION
40

ART AUCTION
“Colour is all. When colour is right,
form is right. Colour is everything,
colour is vibration like music;
everything is vibration.”
Marc Chagall
Facing page: Marc CHAGALL (1887-1985), Rencontre
multicolore avec le peintre pour le concert, 1974, gouache,
tempera and pen and India ink on paper with lithographic
borders, 76.7 x 51.7 cm. Estimate: €200,000 - 300,000,
SOLD FOR €352,800. © Christie’s Images Limited 2023.
Right: Marc CHAGALL (1887-1985), L’Ange devant
l’Opéra, 1981, tempera, gouache, ink, pastel and pencil on
paper, 72.7 x 50.7 cm. Estimate: €180,000 - 200,000,
SOLD FOR €327,600. © Christie’s Images Limited 2023.
LYRICAL FANTASTICAL COMPOSITIONS
CHAGALL ET LA MUSIQUE
This 27th March to 6th April Christie’s presented Chagall et la Musique, an online sale with a selection of 50 newto-the-market
works by Marc Chagall. These works, all formerly in the artist’s estate, had never been offered for
sale before. Chagall et la Musique was part of a Christie’s auction series entitled Marc Chagall, Colour of life:
works formerly from the artist’s estate. The series launched with a London sale in June 2022 followed by a Hong
Kong sale in December and has totalled over 21M€ to date. The Paris auction, which featured around forty
colourful works on paper and a dozen lithographs, offered collectors attractive estimates from €1,000 to
€200,000 - a wonderful opportunity to acquire a piece by Marc Chagall, one of the most sought-after
impressionist and modern artists on the market. Photography courtesy Christie’s Images Limited 2023.
Most of the works offered in Paris were created in the latter half
of the artist’s life, when he returned to France after his Second
World War exile to the United States. For some of them,
Chagall was nearly 100 years old, but all feature the artist’s “pictorial
musicality”. The elements in his compositions dance, sing, and come
together across the pictorial space, resonating differently according to
colour, light, the contrasts of superimposed or juxtaposed shapes, and the
media’s nuances. The selection for sale perfectly epitomised how the artist
wielded his ever-renewing creativity throughout his life, reinventing
himself through his ebullient pictorial language and artistic technique.
A violinist uncle and a mandolin-playing brother meant Chagall had
very personal connections with music from a young age. Musicians and
string instruments underpin the language of his entire body of work.
With their instruments tucked under their arms, musicians also become
harbingers of doom during the most fraught periods in history, as
depicted in Rencontre multicolore avec le peintre pour le concert (1974,
estimate: €200,000 - €300,000; sold for €352,800) – the auction highlight.
41

ART AUCTION
Above: Marc CHAGALL (1887-1985), L’Arc-en-ciel du peintre, 1978-80, gouache, pen and India ink and pastel on paper, 64.8 x 54.9 cm.
Estimate : €50,000 - 80,000, SOLD FOR €252,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2023.
Chagall was endlessly inspired by the boundless space created by music, shaping his
pictorial world through all media. The artist also carried out numerous substantial
commissions the world over, including costume creation and set design for ballets, stage
curtains and opera costumes. In 1964, Chagall painted the Opéra Garnier’s ceiling, the zenith of
his artistic career. The famous Parisian façade would become a recurring figure in his work, as
in L’Ange devant l’Opéra (1981, estimate: €180,000 - €200,000; sold for €327,600).
This October, Christie’s New York will be
presenting Part II of Marc Chagall, Colour of
Life: Prints and Artist’s Books Formerly from
the Artist’s Estate. Celebrating Chagall’s life-long
love of printmaking, the sale will feature works
from the 1920’s to 70’s and will include several
rare, extensively hand-coloured proofs.
42

Book Idea
for Mother's Day
The Role and Symbolism of Flowers in Maltese Art:
Exploring National Floral Depictions
BY GLORIAN MICALLEF-GRIMAUD
PUBLISHED BY FARAXA PUBLISHING
Glorian Micallef-Grimaud's new book The Role and Symbolism of Flowers in Maltese Art spans centuries of floral
depictions in paintings and as decorations on ornamental objects. Drawing upon art displayed in Malta’s main
parish churches, filial chapels, collections in Malta’s main museums and others from private collections, Glorian
Micallef-Grimaud details the species of floral depictions and thematic interpretations, interspersed with historical
anecdotes from various cultures, mythologies, religions and traditions. Roses, lilies and tulips comprise the main floral
depictions in the paintings, which are discussed within historical, artistic, symbolic and botanical contexts. Spanning
centuries, countries and artists, the book, which appeals to both amateur and professional artists and art
connoisseurs, brings the artistic floral details in Maltese art to the fore, inviting deeper observation and understanding.
info@faraxapublishing.com
Faraxa Publishing
www.faraxabooks.com
faraxabooks

THIS IS WINE
The fifteenth chapter in This is wine: its storied place and taste.
“Fruit of the earth, work of human hands,
blessed be God forever”
SUPER TUSCANS – TUSCANY – ITALY
SUPER TUSCANS
KINGS OF THE HILL
44
This page: The Castle of Bolgheri overseeing some of the most prized vineyards in the whole of Tuscany, has only recently come to fame in the last few decades,
due to the rise of the fame of French-style Bordeaux-blend Super Tuscans. Bolgheri, Province of Livorno. Photography Christian Dubendorfer.

SUPER TUSCANS
n a repeat of the 1976 Judgment of Paris where
unknown Californian wines beat in blind tastings
by top critics the likes of high-end Burgundy and
Bordeaux sacrosanct names, a similar blind
tasting event in 1978 organised by Decanter
Magazine would see an off-the-radar newbie
recently commercialized vino da tavola or table wine
from a rather swampy backwater coastal wasteland of
Bolgheri gain international recognition and shoot to fame
as Sassicaia won the hearts of critics in preference to
Bordeaux left bank first growths, writes Kris Bonavita.
Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido was born from the ingenious
idea of a lesser-known cousin of the Marchesi Antinori, who
around the 1950s wishing to mimic the Bordeaux blend
greats, thought that his lands of stony gravels; similar to the left bank
Pauillac of Rothschild and Latour fame; was perfect for French
varieties with an obvious focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. Breaking all
the traditional Chianti rules he kept his wines strictly for personal
consumption and it was only under the legendary winemaker
Giacomo Tachis that a more refined version was deemed worth
commercialising with the vintage of 1968, upon which both the
popular term Super Tuscan and the appellation Bolgheri were
gradually established with reference to revered wines to be collected,
drunk and savoured upon by wine aficionados the world over.
It would take a few more decades for the appellations Bolgheri and
Bolgheri Sassicaia in their own right to be established in 1994,
making both some of the most cutting edge regions in defying
traditional rules and yet compellingly old school in their style of ageworth
refined wines. Within that setting both are synonymous with
the rise of the Super Tuscan term as not defined by a specific grape
variety or locale but rather working on the buccaneer spirit of
winemakers choosing, growing and blending grapes for the right soils
and climate to create wines inspired by an international wine style far
from the more indigenous varietals used in the iconic Chianti or
Brunello identikits. So while Chiantis and Brunellos have a familiar
spectrum of flavour profiles and soil typologies which can easily be
summed up around known parameters; Super Tuscans by their very
nature are humbling and steep learning curve wine journeys where
inspired vine growers and winemakers have the task of simply
creating wines as almost works of art regardless of the rules and
regulations.
Probably affectionately coined by American journalists, who refused
to call them humble table wines, the Super Tuscan can be a blend or a
single varietal cuvée made usually from Sangiovese and/or
Bordeaux/international grape varieties; chiefly Merlot, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot or even Syrah. In a spirit
of rebellion winemakers in the 60s and 70s frustrated by the strict
rules governing Chianti wine laws experimented with grape varieties
on the vast diversity of Tuscan soils and balmy climatic settings so
perfect for the production of great wine. Unlike lighter-styled
Chiantis or the purist Brunellos limited to Montalcino, Super
Tuscans gain their stripes solely from popular accreditation with the
only legal condition of coming from Tuscany’s wine regions. Unable
to use the D.O.C. nomination and boldly creating blends with more
full-bodied and intense flavours, some require good aging even if
surprisingly lovable on the young side. It was only as late as 1992 that
the IGT label was finally created to reflect and assure the quality these
wines attained allowing them to be labeled as originating in Tuscany
regardless of their variety or blend composition.
FOR CONSTANT REVIEWS ON WINES
AVAILABLE IN MALTA AND GOZO FOLLOW
US ON INSTAGRAM/FIRSTTHISISWINE
45

THIS IS WINE
Above: Podere il Carnasciole in the mountains of the Chianti Valdarno region. Photography courtesy Podere Il Carnasciale.
Podere Il Carnasciale Il Caberlot,
demi-magnum ‘SOMMELLERIA’ 2017
€136.15, exclusively represented by Farsonsdirect
Il Caberlot is a grape variety discovered in
the 1960s by Remigo Bordini in the
Veneto region and is believed to be
derived from genetically mutated Cabernet
Franc with Merlot characteristics. Together
with the Rogosky’s they chose to plant the
grape extensively on galestro soils at their
hilltop estate of Podere il Carnasciole in the
mountains of the Chianti Valdarno region as a
bold endeavour into the Super Tuscan world.
Indeed, christening the new variety on the
estate a Sassicaia bottle of wine was
fortuitously buried under the first vine planted
in 1986. Organic methods and meticulous
handwork are the order of the day in this one
to watch and taste estate.
Il Caberlot Sommelleria 2017 (bottle no.
1189) has an intense bouquet of ripe wild
berries, wood tones, tobacco, leather, leaves,
bell pepper and tomato. The attack holds true
with a primary profile of wild cherries and
blackberry intertwined with baked spices,
citrus orchard blooms and stems,
Mediterranean herbs, cassis, liquorice, vanilla
and clove in the finish. A familiar Cabernet
Franc-powered racy reserve and supreme
elegance defy a hot vintage normally associated
with sharper and steeper tannins, and yet the
structure shows this can age effortlessly for
decades and indeed is in the beginning of its
marvelous evolution.
A few hours breathing led to a nicely fleshedout
mid palate with a longer more soothing
finish wrapped up in sun-dried end-of-summer
dark stoned fruit with a vivid concentration,
finesse and Figeac hill gravel-like complexity.
Endive, bitter herbs, cocoa nibs, dry mint, olive
stones, boysenberry all make their mark as
does an elegant and bespoke schist and dusty
stone finish. Overall beautifully intense aromas
which can be enjoyed on the young side if you
prefer the ethereal energy or allowed to
breathe or cellar to get a more palatized feel
to the initial bounty holding your grasp. The
soaring aromatics and shape remind me of
Hubert de Bouard's wine style of Angelus
fame. Its’ crowning achievement, a nod to my
equal affection to Burgundy as much as to
Bordeaux, is that this is all from one stunning
grape variety rather than a blend.
Supplier details: Farsonsdirect has a vast selection of Italian and French wines.
Farsonsdirect, The Brewery, Mdina Road, B'Kara.
Tel 00356 2381 4444. Web farsonsdirect.com
46

SUPER TUSCANS
47

THIS IS WINE
Above: The vast estate and gardens of Tenuta Luce, south of Montalcino is in the Val D’Orcia Natural Park Region. Photography courtesy Frescobaldi – Tenuta Luce.
Frescobaldi Luce della Vite 2018
€109.34, exclusively represented by Charles Grech Ltd
Tenuta Luce lies southwest of
Montalcino in the Val D’Orcia natural
park region. The southwest exposure
of its holding with cool nights and good
elevation are perfect for the gentler full
aromatic ripening of the Sangiovese vines on
galestro or clay schists with the Merlot grown
on lower-lying cool clay soils. An equal blend of
both grapes marries the Brunello-esque aging
potential and reserve with the soft palette
filigree so loved of Merlot. 2018 is an
impressive vintage in Tuscany as it is in France
with hot days and cool night temperatures
ensuring the right amount of ripening even if
the slightly wetter weather in Montalcino
called for a more classical take than the rest of
the region.
Luce della Vite 2018 is all walnut, fig,
mulberry and forest fruit-dense aromas
matched by lush flavours on the entry of warm
ripe red and dark berries to spice-laced purple
flowers, stems, leaves and branches; ending in
seething saffron clay-driven layers of
undergrowth. The primary feel of this is the
corpulence of Merlot, but the aromatic grace
and prowess of Sangiovese soon holds its
mark, with a candid complexity ranging from
bright florals to brooding secondaries and a
touch of dusty schist minerality in the finish.
Upon breathing, animal scents, Mediterranean
herbs, warm cooking spices, milk chocolate,
espresso, hazelnut gianduja, pipe tobacco all
work towards an epic operatic finish.
This is lush, immediate, generous and yet
complex and precise enough for serious aging.
The bold blend caters for both lovers of the
Brunello kind as much as for the more
adventurous Bordeaux style symphonic
complexity thrill seekers; making this a worthy
addition to the Super Tuscan universe. From
the panoply of beautiful wines Tenuta Luce has
to offer, this is my favourite and 2018 does a
splendid job of combining racy lift elements
with nostalgic summer dolce vita quaffability.
Supplier details: Charles Grech has a vast selection of Italian and French wines.
Charles Grech, Palazzo Ca' Brugnera, Valley Road, B'Kara.
Tel: 00356 2144 4400 (Sliema 00356 2132 3731, Ibragg 00356 2137 8609, Ta' Xbiex Seafront 00356 2131 5064). Web charlesgrech.com
48

SUPER TUSCANS
49

THIS IS WINE
Above: Tenuta Guado al Tasso is in the amphitheatre-shaped vineyards facing the Tyhrreanean sea in the DOC of Bolgheri, on the coast southwest of Florence.
Photography courtesy Antinori.
Antinori Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2017
€88.94, exclusively represented by S. Rausi Trading Ltd
Guado is a Bordeaux-style blend of
mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with
Cabernet Franc and Merlot in good
measure. It is affectionately known as a Super
Tuscan due to its bold use of non-indigenous
grapes as a blend grown in the amphitheatreshaped
vineyards facing the Tyhrreanean sea in
the DOC of Bolgheri, on the coast southwest of
Florence. Nocturnal sea breezes and sea light
reflection are indulgently a strong element in
the making of Bolgheri. Soils are alluvial clayey
sands and silts with fine gravel stones known as
scheletro or agglomerate. Bolgheri got its shot
to fame when a relatively unknown Sassicaia
won the hearts of critics in a 1978 Decanter
contest featuring Bordeaux heavyweights.
Antinori’s Guado al Tasso 2017 starts all rich
aromas of meringue, fresh cream, forest fruit
medley; crushed, fresh, ripe and juicy. The
colour a brooding dark purple with a touch of
crimson. The bouquet is complex, intertwined,
dynamic, warm and inviting. Spices abound with
well-integrated fruit layers astonishing for a
young wine and pithy tertiary notes of wet
undergrowth, floral fragrant oils, peppery
geranium and cinnamon; all speak of layers of
clay and ancient alluvium before even tasting.
The attack follows through with racy ripe fruit,
Mediterranean spices, juniper, aniseed and mint,
with a medium plus bodied blend of plum, wild
cherries, forest berry pulp skin and stems
ending in a seething blueberry roast and raw
hazelnut Sambuca finish.
This is a gently sleeping giant beginning to
stir astonishingly palatable for a young vintage,
generous for a 17 with soft silky but weighty
tannins very different from the normally
steep fare from the hot vintage where I
suspect the gentle littoral sea breeze did
wonders to Bolgheri in contrast to the Tuscan
hinterland. With a one-day decant, intimate
velvety textures, medium dryness, plusher
body weight filled in with a volatile yet
astringent, powerful yet docile concentrated
syrup of dense fruit, dark cherry and
grenadine, molasses and chocolate. This is
exquisitely delicious, multifaceted, high-octane
stuff yet has an Italian dolcezza all of its own
and will only get better. The best 2017 I’ve
had so far.
Supplier details: S. Rausi Trading has the full portfolio of Marchesi Antinori Wines.
S Rausi Trading Ltd, Empire Stadium Str, Gzira.
Tel 00356 2131 6210. Web srausi.com/shop
50

SUPER TUSCANS
51

THIS IS WINE
Above: Ca'Marcanda is Gaja's estate in Bolgheri, chosen for its clay-limestone terroir at the foot of the iron rich hills. Photograhy Davide Greco, courtesy Ca'Marcanda.
Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari Bolgheri 2020
€85, exclusively represented by Mirachem
For the tech curious: Magari is largely
Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon with a
touch of Petit Verdot grown on silt,
limestone, clay and stony terrain. Ca'Marcanda is
Gaja’s estate in Bolgheri, chosen for its claylimestone
terroir at the foot of the iron rich hills.
2020 was a hot ripe vintage in Tuscany topped off
by late harvest rains to jump-start the final
ripening stage. Wines can be characterised as rich,
concentrated yet aromatically delicate and if
harvested early having enough acidity for
moderate aging.
Gaja's Ca'Marcanda Magari 2020 is ripe red
cherries, smoked cedar, cinnamon, and red
flowers (rose and geranium) with a beautiful
entry of sweet fruit having a lush mid-palate of
elegant primaries paired with a stone and gravel
minerality that sees you off to a lasting finish. This
is young, vibrant and elegant, more on the lines of
a pop and pour quick rich phenolics stance but
also precise in its traditionally Gaja style with its
Burgundian focus on pure terroir as its raison
d’etre. At first glance hard to believe this is a
Bordeaux-blend of varieties such is its seamless
initial feel.
Upon breathing a more texturised lengthy
experience that holds you through from the ripe
lush primaries to the serene secondary profile
finesse, giving you a good picture of the soils
involved here, limestone, clay and gravel are my
guess. With time, more intimate aromas translate
into flavours; a wide floral and spice spectrum;
slight incense and Mediterranean herbs; are all
well represented with tart plums and blackberries
bringing the complexity of the primaries to the
fore and middle, all wrapped in an underlying
structure belying its elegance and immediacy. This
can age as much as it can be drunk now.
Supplier details: Mirachem has a vast selection of Italian and French wines.
Mirachem, Mira Building, Triq Kan K Pirotta, B’Kara.
Tel 00356 2148 8590. Web wine.mt
52

SUPER TUSCANS
53

BRUNCH
54

BRUNCH
“Sunday brunch is an easy, pleasant way to entertain a largish group, especially in the country.
Americans who overslept invented the word brunch, but the ingredients and the casual atmosphere
bear a strong resemblance to breakfast in an English country house or to a French midnight supper.
The choice of menu can be as wide as the imagination. Practically anything goes - from hearty
breakfast dishes such as filled omelettes, kidneys, chicken livers and bacon, sausages, and eggs
Benedict. Something pretty in aspic, or a salmon mousse in a fish-shaped mold, makes a lovely
centerpiece. Best of all, most of the meal can be prepared way ahead of time and it can be managed
without outside help - if, that is, the hostess puts in a lot of work the day before and early that
morning. People can wander in when they feel like it, so there’s no need to tint this one. Drinks are no
problem. A big punch bowl with chunks of fresh fruit makes a nice starter, and mixings for bloody
Marys, screwdrivers, or bullshots can be left on a table for guests to serve themselves. Of course there
should be a big pot of very good coffee.”
Joan Crawford, My Way of Life.
Let’s do Brunch
A delicious brunch is perfect at the weekend. Plan ahead and get inspired with these ideas.
PHOTOGRAPHY MICHEILE HENDERSON.
55

BRUNCH
CHERRY
TOPPED
PANCAKES
Perfect for brunch or tea-time. The pancakes
can be made ahead and reheated to serve.
175g self-raising flour, sifted
1tsp baking powder
40g caster sugar
finely grated zest of 1 small orange
1 egg
200ml milk
sunflower oil, for frying
cherries
good quality cherry compote or jam
squeeze of lemon juice
1. Mix dry ingredients and zest to a large
bowl. Make a well in centre, add egg and
half milk. Using a whisk, beat well to a
smooth thick batter. Beat in more of
remaining milk to reach a thick consistency
(like thick pouring cream). Leave to stand,
about 30 minutes.
2. Heat a little oil over high heat in a large
non-stick pan. Drop in batter in
dessertsponfuls, spacing each pancake well.
Cook untl bubbles appear on the surface,
roughly 2 minutes. Turn and cook until
golden brown, roughly 30-60 seconds.
3. Stack cooked pancakes and cook
remaining batter, add oil as needed.
4. Serve topped with cherry compote or
jam warmed with a good squeeze of
lemon juice, topped with cherries, or any
berry or fruit combination of choice.
56

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BRUNCH
BLOOD ORANGE
MIMOSA
What distinguishes brunch for a late breakfast? A good cocktail. This Blood Orange Mimosa, which works
equally well with pink grapefruit juice, is an elegant twist on the classic Mimosa, a pitcher can be prepared
ahead of time to top with sparkling wine when guests arrive. For added flair, sugar rim your cocktail glasses
– rub a wedge of blood orange or lemon along the outer edge of the glass, then place the glass upside down
into a dish of sugar and twist, lift the glass and shake off any excess. Allow the glass to dry before pouring.
FOR A GLASS
1-2 ounces freshly squeezed blood orange juice, strained
dry sparkling wine or Prosecco or Champagne, well chilled
blood orange segments for garnish
1. Depending on taste, add one to two ounces of freshly squeezed
juice topped with well chilled sparkling wine, Prosecco or
Champagne. Garnish with blood orange segments.
FOR A PITCHER
10 to 12 blood oranges, juiced and strained
bottle dry sparkling wine or Prosecco or Champagne
blood orange segments for garnish
orange liquer optional
Prepare juice ahead and keep well chilled in a pitcher.
Wait for guests to arrive before pouring in a bottle of
well chilled dry sparkling wine or Prosecco or
Champagne. OPTIONAL Add-in 80ml orange liquer
to the pitcher for a bit more flavour and punch.
BRUNCH COCKTAIL CLASSICS
APEROL SPRITZ
Aperol, Prosecco, soda, an orange slice, plenty of ice
Fill a large wine glass with plenty of ice. Add 3 parts Prosecco, then 2 parts Aperol. Add a
dash of soda and stir lightly. Garnish with an orange slice (not lemon) and enjoy.
BLOODY MARY
58
1 1/2 oz vodka, 3oz tomato juice, 1/2oz freshly squeezed lemon juice, dash Worcestershire
sauce, dash hot sauce (or to taste), pinch celery salt, pinch freshly ground black pepper,
1/4tsp prepared horseradish (to taste – optional), lemon wedge and celery stalk for garnish
Pour vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce into a highball glass filled
with ice. Add hot sauce, celery salt, black pepper, and horseradish (optional). Stir well and
adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with lemon wedge and celery stalk.

BRUNCH
CLASSIC
SANDWICHES
Sandwiches for brunch can be light and easy, from a simple wholegrain roll spread with Philadephia Cream
Cheese, good sliced cheese, cucumber and baby leaf salad, to something more tangy like Brie and Chutney or
Coronation Chicken. Remember, sandwiches are only as good as the bread you use, so use good quality fresh
bread from a good baker, such as L-Aħwa bakery on St Trophimus Street, Sliema.
BRIE AND MANGO CHUTNEY
CIABATTA OR FTIRA
FOR 2 CIABATTA
120g Brie, sliced
2tsp mango chutney, to taste
2 handfuls of rucola
FOR A CLASSIC MALTESE FTIRA
200g Brie, sliced
4tsp mango chutney, to taste
rucola
1. Slice the ciabatta or Maltese ftira in half, spread
both sides with mango chutney.
2. Add sliced Brie and top with rocket. The Maltese
ftira option is ideal for brunch, you can make one
big ftira, and cut in segments on a serving dish.
CORONATION CHICKEN
6tbsp mayonnaise
2tsp mild curry powder, to taste
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
2tbsp mango chutney
500g shredded cooked chicken
1-2tbsp sultanas – to taste
a good loaf of sandwich bread or baguette
baby leaf salad
1. Mix mayonnaise, curry, cinnamon, chutney,
season with black pepper.
Add sultanas to taste or leave out if you prefer.
Add shredded chicken and mix well.
2. Butter fresh sandwich bread or baguette, fill
with mixture, and baby leaf salad.
60

BRUNCH
BERRY YOGHURT
GRANOLA POTS
Eye catching pots that are perfect for mingling at brunch. Top
with fresh berries or any colourful fresh fruit pieces.
berries or fruit
Greek Yoghurt or Skyr
granola
seeds and nuts to taste
a good quality berry or fruit compote – optional
honey to drizzle – optional
In a set of pretty glasses assemble the ingredients in
layers as desired. As shown – starting with granola
and nuts and/or seeds, fruit or berries and some
compote (optional), a layer of yoghurt, more
granola, more compote if desired, and finish off
with a nice layer of berries or fruit and seeds and
nuts. Drizzle lightly with honey if desired. Serve
immediately.
61

RETIREMENT PLANNING
62

RETIREMENT PLANNING
Pensions and Retirement
Financial capability is much broader than having the adequate education and information to make good
financial decisions, but rather a mixture of financial knowledge, attitudes, skills and experiences that will help
you to make useful money management decisions that fit your own set of needs. In simple words, financial
capability is the ability to manage money well. Managing money can be a very simple task, yet most of us
struggle to do it well. It involves budgeting, saving for the future and tracking your spending habits. This is
where ĠEMMA comes into place. Ġemma – Know, Plan, Act is your trusted independent financial capability
portal. Our main aim is to be a source of education on retirement income and financial capability writes
Mark Bezzina – B.Com (Hons) (Melit), Pension and Private Pension Expert, ĠEMMA.
At Ġemma we have organised several projects to help people
manage their money well. We organise webinars on different
topics, courses and training for different age groups and needs,
and have also developed applications to help people budget and spend
within their means. Our budget planner app for example, is a financial
capability education tool that allows users to list their expenses against
their income to achieve financial goals. Transactions can be sorted on a
daily, monthly or weekly basis, and intuitive visualisations help show
whether one’s spending lifestyle is sustainable or not.
For children, we have also developed Karus - an app that allows
children to learn money management skills by scheduling tasks with a
different number of points. Parents or guardians need to approve the
completed tasks to grant the points which can be then assigned to goals
or taken as pocket money. For younger people, there is also an
interactive, educational game called Money Monsters for children in
primary school.
All of this is being done to help people prepare for their future and
work for having a good standard of living, especially after retirement,
when the state pension might not be enough to sustain the life that we
are accustomed to.
COMFORTABLE LIVING
AND PENSION AWARENESS
Your pension in Malta will be calculated on two-thirds of your
salary, subject to a capping. First and foremost, to arrive at an
individual’s final state pension, the income formula for someone
born after the 1st January 1962 is based on the best 10 years of the last
40 years. The maximum pensionable income as of 2023 is €26,831,
which means, that you will not get more than 2/3 of this salary as a state
pension. Do you think that you can live comfortably with this amount,
especially when you consider the rising cost of living?
There is no perfect time to start retirement planning. At different
stages in life, your financial profile may look different. However, it is
advisable to begin retirement planning in the early years of life. It helps
spread the investments over an extended period, thereby reducing the
burden on your regular income.
PRIVATE PENSION SCHEMES
FOR ADDITIONAL INCOME
The main scope to save in a private pension scheme is to have an
additional source of income after retirement, and hence, to not
solely depend on the pension provided by the state. There are
various schemes offered by different companies, where the amount
invested per day can be less than the price of a coffee. Some private pension
schemes in Malta are offered as capital guaranteed, where the capital
invested cannot go down, but only go up through the interest provided.
Other schemes may be unit-linked, which means that the value of your
pension might go up or down, depending on the fund chosen. In other
words, the private plan chosen can cater to various levels of risk appetite.
Government. Under current legislation, the tax credit for 2023 can apply
to a maximum contribution of €3,000 (resulting in a maximum tax
credit of €750 per person).
As per current legislation, a pension scheme cannot be withdrawn
before you reach 61 years of age or after you reach 70 years of age. Once
you are in this age bracket (between 61 and 70 years old), up to 30% can
be taken as lump sum, and the rest must be taken as a pension. For
people worrying about what will happen in case of death, the company
will generally pay the investment value to your estate, or designated
beneficiary in case of death before the plan term expires.
VOLUNTARY OCCUPATIONAL
RETIREMENT PENSION SCHEMES
Nowadays, there are also Voluntary Occupational Retirement
Pension Schemes (VORPS). As part of the national strategy to
increase the number of persons who prepare for their retirement
by saving in incentivised tailored pension products, the VORPS
framework was introduced in 2017. For an employer to introduce this
scheme, there is no financial obligation – in terms of a mandatory
pension contribution that an employer must pay. The employer may
enter into an agreement with a VORPS provider in which staff employed
may also contribute into the scheme. Numerous tax incentives for both
the employer and the employee that contribute into the scheme are in
place and by carrying out this type of scheme, the employer is enhancing
its reputation and becomes an “employer of choice”.
The trick to a private pension scheme is to start saving as early as
possible. By starting early and by making adequate and regular
contributions, a private pension scheme will help to provide an
additional source of income for people and hence, individuals who opt
for a private pension scheme can continue to enjoy life as they were
doing before retirement. People can continue to enjoy their favourite
restaurants and continue to travel as they were accustomed to. The best
time to start saving for your retirement is when you receive your firstever
paycheck. The second best time? This month.
Any statement about taxation is based on our understanding of current
law and tax practice. Future changes in law and taxation, or your own
financial circumstances, could affect the treatment of the private pension
plan and the amount of tax payable. In order to ascertain your exact tax
status, you should seek specific and professional tax advice in relation to
your tax obligations under the Personal Pension Plan.
This article is not designed to offer financial advice and should not be used
in isolation when making a decision about your financial planning. You may
wish to seek financial advice before starting a long-term savings contract.
In addition to the return offered by the scheme, individuals may be
eligible to receive a tax credit of 25%, up to a maximum set by the
63

RETIREMENT PLANNING
THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO GAIN WEALTH GRADUALLY
Why Compound Interest Matters
Once dubbed by Albert Einstein as the 8th wonder of the world, compound interest is undoubtedly the
most powerful tool that can get you to financial wealth. However, very few people know of its benefits, or
they don’t believe in it enough to make the necessary effort and make it part of their financial plans. Luca
Caruana, a Certified Money Coach, and the creator of the Money Coaching Hub discusses the benefits of
compound interest and shares tips to help you start implementing it.
WHAT IS COMPOUNDING?
Compound interest is when you
begin earning interest on the
interest you receive – this makes
it possible for your money to multiply at
an accelerated rate. Let’s say you managed
to save 1,000 euro this year, and invest the
sum in a fund that earns you
approximately 10% interest per year. You
would have 1,100 euro after one year. If
the fund earns another 10% the next year
on that 1,100 euro, you end up with 1,210
euro by the end of year two. The process
continues, until eventually the original
lump sum, i.e. the 1,000 euro will be
eclipsed by the amount of interest you
gained.
GETTING THE MOST OUT
OF COMPOUNDING
Your money can compound more
effectively when you give it more
time to compound. That is why
many financial professionals advise that
the earlier you start saving and investing,
the better, since your money will have
more time to grow, and even weather any
financial downturns, recessions and a
period of inflation, which may all erode
the returns that you hope to achieve over
time.
There are several compound interest
calculators available for free on the
internet that can help you calculate how
much your money can grow over a period
of time. Patience is the ultimate ingredient
to building your wealth nest when it
comes to compounding.
For example, imagine a person - let's call
them Jake or Stephanie - is 30 years old and
wishes to save 1 million euro by the age of
65 (the year they plan to retire). They can
afford to save 500 euro per month to
achieve this target, but they already
calculated that if he or she saves this
amount regularly and puts it in a normal
bank account, they would have 210,000
euro by their 65th year. Quite a way off the
1 million target.
But what if either one decides to invest
the 500 euro instead? What if they start
putting it in a balanced investment
portfolio and let it grow there over time,
giving the money time and space, and
letting it flourish? With a 10% annual
return, both Jake and Stephanie would
have their 1 million each by the age of 60
(5 years before their target retirement age).
Baulking at the 500 euro regular monthly
savings? I get it, it is not always easy to
save such a sum regularly. Let’s take it a
notch lower and go with 300 euro a month
instead. You will still end up with
approximately 600,000 euro by age 60, or
even the sum both Jake and Stephanie
wanted, a whopping 1 million if you’re
willing to wait another 5 years (i.e. till the
age of 65) to cash in your money.
TIME IS THE MAGIC
What gives compound
interest its superpower?
Time! Patience is key if
you want to reap the rewards of this
financial tool - quitting early won’t get you
far. With a bit of self-control, your hardearned
money will work wonders with just
enough time and effort on your part. Now
that’s something worth waiting for!
A Money Coach is not a financial adviser
or a financial planner. A Money Coach
focuses on your relationship with money,
how your current behaviour with money
has developed, and what you can do to
make it better. For more information and
other informative articles visit
moneycoachinghub.com
64
PHOTOGRAPHY PAWEL CZERWINSKI

HEALTH & FITNESS
STAYING ACTIVE THROUGHOUT ADULTHOOD IS LINKED TO LOWER
HEALTHCARE COSTS IN LATER LIFE – NEW RESEARCH. NOT ONLY DOES
EXERCISE LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS, IT ALSO LOWERS RISK OF DISEASE.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START EXERCISING.
ACTIVE AGEING
Exercise is good for your health at every age – and you can reap the benefits no matter how late in
life you start. But our latest research has shown another benefit of being physically active throughout
life. We found that in the US, people who were more physically active as teenagers and throughout
adulthood had lower healthcare costs, writes Diarmuid Coughlan, Research Associate in Health
Economics, Newcastle University.
66

HEALTH & FITNESS
These findings are especially
relevant to people who live in
countries without universal
healthcare, such as the US.
However, our findings apply indirectly to
countries with universal healthcare, such
as the UK, as a healthier population
could result in lower costs for the
healthcare system as a whole.
For our study, we drew on data from
the National Cancer Institute’s study on
diet and health, which looked at over half
a million adults. As part of this study,
adults in 1996 who were aged 50-71 were
asked how physically active they were
during this time in their life. They were
also asked to estimate how much exercise
they got in late adolescence and early and
middle adulthood.
We followed up with participants
between 2004-06. During this time, some
consented for their study responses to be
linked with their Medicare data.
Medicare is the major health insurance
programme for American adults aged 65
years and older.
To ensure results were accurate, we only
looked at respondents who were 65 years
of age, as this is the age a person first
qualifies for Medicare. We also adjusted
our results to take into account other
things that could influence the outcome,
such as ethnicity, education, marital
status, and whether a person smoked.
This way we could be fairly certain that
we were only looking at the effect of
physical activity on healthcare costs.
Based on our data, people were
clustered into groups according to their
exercise habits throughout adulthood.
We identified nine groups, which fell into
four main categories: maintainers (36%
of the group who maintained moderate
to high activity throughout adulthood),
decreasers (30.5% of the group who were
active in early adulthood but became less
active as they aged), and increasers
(14.5% of the group who weren’t active in
early adulthood but became more active
throughout their lives). Around 18.5% of
the group were consistently inactive
throughout their lifetime.
This page: Photography this page Moises Alex.
67

HEALTH & FITNESS
A LIFETIME OF ACTIVITY
We found that adults who
maintained or increased
their physical activity
from adolescence
throughout adulthood had lower average
annual healthcare costs than adults who
were consistently inactive over time -
around 10% to 22% lower than those
who were less active or inactive.
In contrast, adults who were active
earlier in life but less active in middle-age
(decreasers), did not benefit from lower
healthcare costs after age 65, despite
being active earlier in life. In fact, their
Medicare costs were akin to those who
had been consistently inactive all their
life.
Although the study’s respondents came
from different parts of the US, it’s hard to
say whether these results would be true
for people in other parts of the world.
And, as our study was based on selfreported
information obtained from a
survey, we can’t say whether activity
levels caused lower healthcare costs. Also,
we weren’t able to control for all factors
that may have affected the results, such as
whether a person developed an injury
that limited their activity levels.
However, similar findings to ours have
also been seen in other research, such as
an Australian study which found that
middle-aged women who were active
throughout their life had 40% lower
healthcare costs over the three years that
the study took place.
Given that one in four adults
worldwide don’t get enough exercise,
large-scale efforts to improve physical
activity – especially among adolescents
and young adults - could help reduce
healthcare costs and improve health later
in life. Strategies such as working with
people one on one, in small groups, or
on a community level, to change their
physical activity levels are all proven to
work.
This article first appeared on The
Conversation.
68
This page: Photography this page Mario Gogh.

REFURBISHMENT OF DAR
IL-MISTRIEĦ, FLORIANA
An ageing population requires the provision of holistic quality services in order for older persons to continue
living independently within the community. Whilst the Ministry for Active Ageing strives to strengthen the
provision of community services to older persons, longer life expectancies have led to an increased demand
for residential care for older persons experiencing difficulties in performing their activities of daily living. In this
regard, strengthening residential care services is a priority that the Ministry intends to pursue.
Photography DOI – Jason Borg.
Dar il-Mistrieħ, better known as
Floriana Home, opened its doors to
the first residents in 1987. This is the
smallest care home amongst the four
governmental care homes, as it
accommodates 46 residents, and it is very
sought after by old people from Valletta
and Floriana.
Since Active Ageing and Community
Care strives for a service of excellence, a
radical refurbishment is currently being
carried out to provide a secure
environment for its elderly residents.
REFURBISHMENT WORKS
In 2021 a total refurbishment of the
basement was carried out by means of a
€190,000 investment. The works carried
out have resulted in adequate changing
rooms and a spacious pantry for the
employees, as well as a new laundry facility
area for the residents of the home. Other
works that amounted to over €100,000
included roof works, the installation of an
electricity generator and a new fire alarm,
outdoor umbrellas for the backyard, and
the installation of air conditioning units in
the chapel.
In the coming months, other major works
will be carried out throughout the entire
home. These will include new common
bathrooms and ensuites; a new air
conditioning system for the entire home;
brand new furniture for the rooms, main
kitchen and common areas; new soffits
and light fittings; waterproofing; a new vinyl
flooring for the common areas; new soft
furnishings for the entire home; new kitchen
equipment; as well as the reconstruction of
the front ramp of the main entrance to
make the home more accessible to
wheelchairs and stretchers. The hairdressing
salon is also being restructured, and a new
multi-disciplinary clinic is being set up. This
clinic will have specialized medical
equipment so that residents are given
holistic treatment within the home itself.
It is envisaged that the entire
refurbishment will be completed by the end
of 2023 with an estimated total cost of
around €800,000 when one also considers
the expenses of the first phase of
refurbishment. The Welfare Committee will
be providing €300,000 to cover part of the
costs of this refurbishment.
Through this major refurbishment of
Floriana Home, Active Ageing and
Community Care will be drastically
improving the quality of life of its residents
by providing a safer and better caring and
living environment.

Aging in a Better
Environment
We live in a fast-paced world, yet one aspect affects us all –
the environment we live in. We are but one species of a myriad of
organisms that inhabit this planet. Yet man has made a large impact
on the surroundings of his habitation says Michael Zerafa,
Maintenance Manager, CareMalta Group.
PROMOTION
When I was younger, I looked at the world
as a vast place with infinite resources, or
so it seemed. Growing up I began to
have a more vivid interest in the living
world around me. I became interested in the vast biodiversity
of this planet and the intricate relationships that living
creatures and organisms have with each other. Often the
public understands very little of these connections, but as
science and natural research have shown in the past 60 years
or so, many organisms depend on each other’s well-being
either directly or indirectly. There are vast networks of
interdependent collaborations mostly evident in rainforests
and coral reefs. Yet even in a small country like ours, we have
these networks in the, unfortunately, dwindling countryside.
Man is a social creature, and he has also developed a network where people depend on each
other and care for each other, especially in the health and care sector. We have advanced in
technology so that we can use the natural resources around us and study the natural world to
understand how it works and apply these techniques to help our fellow man.
Man has also studied the building blocks of life - the genome. We are developing tailor-made
genetic treatments, a vast advancement in the last couple of decades. We have also understood the
importance not just of the scientific medical aspect of care but more importantly the mental. The
latter is very much affected, whether we accept it or not, by the surroundings we live in. So, the
environment we live in will make a big difference to our health.
INCREASED AWARENESS
The care industry is now catering to all
ages of life from infancy with childcare
centres to old age, retirement facilities,
and nursing homes.
All these organized institutions are becoming
more aware that the environment they offer
will make a big difference to the well-being of
patrons and residents. Looking at the elderly
care sector locally awareness has grown, even
the Maltese government has put forth
initiatives to better the lives of our elderly, who
worked to provide for us.
CareMalta has endeavoured to improve the
environment of its facilities to be more
sustainable and greener from its onset. This
does not necessarily mean luxury items but
using the resources at their disposal
sustainably. Open spaces with a serene and
naturally pleasing environment are one of the
values that it is pushing for. Creating a space
with natural biodiversity even in a
comparatively small area can have a very
calming and uplifting effect on the elderly who
can spend quiet time observing and taking in
the atmosphere.
Another aspect is raising awareness of the
environment around us, even inside the facility,
to make better use of the country's resources,
such as not wasting by switching off unused
lighting and power, changing operational
methods to be more energy efficient, and
reducing the overall carbon footprint.
OUR FUTURE
The 22nd of April – Earth Day is
celebrated around the world to increase
awareness of the effect that our daily
activities are having on our environment. This
year it is highlighting the importance of
investing in our planet.
This year CareMalta Group is celebrating 30
years in the elderly care sector and today, more
than before, it is striving to become ever more
sustainable, creating a positive green
environment where the residents and staff can
increase awareness to better care for the
environment and by extension each other.
The currently projected outcome for the earth
is not very bright! Biodiversity overall is
decreasing and natural disasters increasing. It is
quite evident that what we are doing is
negatively affecting this planet, and to date,
there is no planet B.
Just as we care for the elderly who might be
living their final years, we need to care for this
planet that we are all part of. You might ask what
can I do? Every change begins with a choice and
if we are environmentally conscious, we can
make the right one. The choice is yours!
71

ENVIRONMENT
“Men argue. Nature acts.”
Voltaire
WORLD EARTH DAY
Earth Day is an annual event on 22nd April to demonstrate support for environmental
protection. First held on 22nd April 1970, it now includes a wide range of events
coordinated globally by Earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193
countries. The official theme for 2023 is Invest In Our Planet.
PARADISICAL DESTINATIONS IMPACTED BY CLIMATE
CHANGE For Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like
Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia
(this page) or Vanuatu (overleaf), climate change
remains the most significant single threat to sustainable
development. The Vanuatu Mission to the United Nations
is a strong advocate for a reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions that limits the rise in global temperatures to
well below 1.5° Celsius. Although already a carbonnegative
country, absorbing more emissions than it
produces, it further engages in ensuring the effective
implementation of the Paris Agreement and is
committed to 100% renewable energy in electricity
generation by 2030.
72
This page: Chuuk Lagoon, part of Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia, in the Pacific. Photogaphy Marek Okon.

WORLD EARTH DAY
According to Earthday.org, "in the
decades leading up to the first
Earth Day, Americans were
consuming vast amounts of
leaded gas through massive and inefficient
automobiles. Industry belched out smoke and
sludge with little fear of the consequences
from either the law or bad press. Air
pollution was commonly accepted as the
smell of prosperity. Until this point,
mainstream America remained largely
oblivious to environmental concerns and
how a polluted environment threatens
human health. However, the stage was set for
change with the publication of Rachel
Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent
Spring in 1962. The book represented a
watershed moment, selling more than
500,000 copies in 24 countries as it raised
public awareness and concern for living
organisms, the environment and the
inextricable links between pollution and
public health."
In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San
Francisco, peace activist John McConnell
proposed a day to honour the Earth - 21st
March, 1970, the first day of spring in the
northern hemisphere. A month later, US
Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea of
holding an environmental teach-in on April
22, 1970 across the US. He hired a young
activist, Denis Hayes, to be the National
Coordinator. Nelson and Hayes renamed the
event "Earth Day". Denis and his staff grew
the event beyond the original idea for a teachin
to include the entire United States. More
than 20 million people poured out on the
streets, and the first Earth Day remains the
largest single-day protest in human history.
73

at the Workplace
1
Opt for a reusable mug for your hot drink at
work and avoid using any single-use cups.
If you want your lunch to stay fresh whilst also
taking care of the environment, prepare your food
in a sealed reusable container or lunch box and
try to avoid using plastic wraps or bags.
2
3
Opt for local and seasonal food for your lunch
to avoid extra plastic packaging when possible.
Re-use stationary items as much as possible
and try to minimise paper usage were possible.
4
SAVING OUR

WORLD EARTH DAY
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
Native American Proverb
While the first Earth Day
was focused on the United
States, in 1990 Hayes took
it to an international level
and organized events in 141 countries.
Sixteen years later, on Earth Day 2016, the
landmark Paris Agreement was signed by the
United States, the United Kingdom, China,
and 120 other countries. This signing
satisfied a key requirement for the entry into
force of the historic draft climate protection
treaty adopted by consensus of the 195
nations present at the 2015 United Nations
Climate Change Conference in Paris.
Numerous communities engaged in Earth
Day Week actions, an entire week of activities
focused on the environmental issues that the
world faces. For Earth Day 2020 the theme
was 'Climate Action. Due to the COVID-19
pandemic, many of the planned activities
were moved online and over 100 million
people around the world observed the 50th
anniversary - the largest online mass
mobilization in history.
Earth Day is a reminder to dedicate time,
resources, and energy to solving climate
change and other environmental issues. April
22, 2023, marks the 53rd anniversary of the
birth to the modern environmental
movement. The celebration of ecoconsciousness
takes place in more than 190
countries around the globe and is the most
widely observed nonreligious holiday in
history.
BUILD A HEALTHY ECONOMY Sustainability is the
path to prosperity for humanity and businesses
alike. Companies who’ve developed strong
Environment Social Governance (ESG) standards
are seeing better profitability, stronger financial
performance, and happier employees. There is no
longer a choice between going green and
growing long term profits. It is crucial for businesses
of all sizes to act now, otherwise, climate change
will cause even more catastrophic damage to our
economies and negatively impact everyone.
(Source www.earthday.org)
This page: Vanuatu, in the Pacific, has been named by the UN as the country most at risk from natural disasters. Photography Seiji Seiji.
75

URBAN GREENING
SUSTAINABLE SPACES
URBAN GREENING
Ġnien Victor Calvagna, ‘a green oasis in Mosta’s dense urban environment’, is how the jury of the Malta
Architecture and Spatial Planning (MASP) Awards described this project before crowning it as the winner of the
Public Open Spaces Award. This new garden project which opened its gates last July was managed by
GreenServ, a branch of WasteServ. It was the very first project to be inaugurated amongst a number of other
greening projects planned in urban areas to act as green lungs, writes the projects team at GreenServ.
With its functional and
stunning design, Ġnien
Victor Calvagna embodies
a fresh perspective with
sustainability, creativity, and innovation at the
forefront. Whilst ensuring that the design
carefully preserved the existing olive trees, the
garden has become a strong community space
owing to the addition of a playground, gym
equipment, a gardening plot, and a canopy area.
The materials used in this project were also
chosen with sustainability in mind. Recycled
rubber chips and decking, and sustainably
sourced timber feature in this garden with an
area of around 4,000m 2. The result was that over
40% of the materials used prioritised
sustainability, circular economy, and waste
reduction. Solar panels and underground water
tanks were also installed.
ROMEO ROMANO GARDENS
Another project that got the MASP jury
praise was the restoration of Romeo
Romano Gardens. This project received
a special commendation for its high-quality
design and workmanship. It was touted as a
blueprint for other historical gardens in need of
a more contemporary edge.
Here, GreenServ has successfully married the
old with the new while also combining
recreation, education, and conservation. In the
first phase of this project, which was inaugurated
last December, the original pathways, fountains,
and boundary walls were restored to a high
standard, while still respecting the garden’s
historical value. Features such as the ‘sienja’, an
old water reservoir, and stone irrigation channels
were also restored and made functional again. A
new playground was included with wood as the
main material used in order to respect the
historical context of this garden while bark
chippings were used instead of rubber flooring.
With the installation of wooden decking
equipped with sensory equipment, the garden
now has a multipurpose area that could
accommodate different activities, including
hands-on activities for children. In the second
phase of this project, an old groundsman’s house
within this garden is being transformed into an
environmental educational centre giving
students a hands-on opportunity to learn about
nature protection and sustainability.
76

PROMOTION
Romeo Romano Gardens
ĦAMRUN
Ġnien Victor Calvagna
Romeo Romano Gardens
Green roofs in Żabbar
GreenServ's approach to sustainability
and creativity sets an excellent
example for other urban greening
projects. In another project in Ħamrun, a
car park was reinvented for dual use, a
shaded parking area at ground level, and a
recreational area in the form of a roof
garden on top of a 40-tonne steel structure.
More than 1,800 trees, shrubs, and plants
were planted in an otherwise grey area.
ŻABBAR, QORMI AND
VITTORIOSA
Recently GreenServ completed three
projects at Żabbar where green
pockets were introduced at three
different sites that were previously used as
parking areas. The inclusion of green roofs,
water walls, and vertical landscaping will
also allow residents to enjoy lovely views
from their homes. Work is still ongoing in
another project, this time in Qormi where
part of the stormwater culvert is being
transformed into a garden with a 200-metre
running track. Works will soon start in
Vittoriosa which will see the transformation
of a green belt on the outskirts of this city
to include a picnic area, a recreation area,
an informal children’s play area, and a dog
park.
By combining thoughtful design and
sustainability, GreenServ, supported by
dedicated contractors, is delivering spaces
that people want to come to and where the
building blocks of such projects are
innovation, sustainability, green
landscaping, and meaningful community
spaces. These are the projects that are
shaping the future of public open spaces
and making Malta greener.
Ġnien Victor Calvagna
77

WORLD EARTH DAY
78
This page: Justine Baldacchino, Malta International Airport’s recently appointed Head of Sustainability and Analytics.

PROMOTION
MALTA
INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT’S
JOURNEY TO
NET ZERO
New regulations and pressure from customers are leading more
and more businesses to pledge to operate more responsibly. But
what does this mean in practice? Malta International Airport’s
recently appointed Head of Sustainability and Analytics, Justine
Baldacchino, discusses how the island’s only airport is setting its
environmental targets and ensuring that it is on the right path to
achieve them, particularly its net zero ambition.
Malta International Airport’s
sustainability department
came into being fairly
recently, in 2020, when the
scope of the existing data and analytics
department was widened to include the
company’s environmental sustainability
function. While the relationship between
sustainability and analytics might not be
immediately evident for everyone, Justine
believes that to set realistic environmental
targets and, eventually, measure your
success in reaching them, your decisions
must be rooted in solid data and sound
analyses.
One such target, which the company has
been setting for the past few years, is
related to the reduction of the kilos of
carbon dioxide released per passenger
travelling through the airport. While this
stood at 2.3 kilos back in 2014, the
company reported an emission intensity of
under one kilo of carbon dioxide for 2022,
with this drop stemming from several
energy-related investments undertaken
along the way. A large volume of disparate
data goes into calculating this emission
intensity metric: from electricity meter
readings taken from practically across the
airport campus, whose sprawling size adds
to the challenge of keeping records
updated, to the litres of fuel consumed by
the company’s vehicle fleet and generators,
and a few other figures in between.
This is not managed by the sustainability
department single-handedly but is the
result of real team effort and collaboration.
In 2021, Justine set up the company’s
Environmental Working Group with the
aim of providing the key persons within
eight different departments the
opportunity to discuss targets, which are
incorporated into a wider two-year
Environmental Plan once approved, and
report on the progress made towards
achieving them. Annual results are
ultimately presented to and approved by
the Corporate Responsibility Committee,
which is chaired by the company’s Chief
Executive Officer.
79

WORLD EARTH DAY
80
RESPONSIBLE WASTE-MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES
While the company has been tracking its
performance in relation to energy and water
management for almost a decade, more
responsible waste-management practices and
corresponding targets have been a more recent addition.
Following a drive towards better waste separation and the
introduction of organic waste collection, the target of
landfill waste per passenger was established for the first
time in 2022 and tied to the payment of a company-wide
bonus, in addition to an existing bonus pegged to emission
intensity.
“The introduction of such incentives, paid alongside
other bonuses that are attached to our financial
performance, shows that safeguarding our environment is
truly part of our core mission, and we want all our people
to feel motivated to join us on this mission,” says Justine,
with evident satisfaction at how far Malta International
Airport has come in relation to environmental matters.
SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS
Yet, even more work needs to be put in if the
company is to achieve its net zero target by 2050.
In 2022, the sustainability team started working on
the mammoth task of collecting data to be able to start
calculating scope 3 emissions. Put very simply, these are
emissions that are not directly produced by the company’s
activities or controlled assets but result from stakeholder
activities along the value chain. This exercise was kickstarted
with a survey to gather information on Malta
International Airport’s employees’ work commute patterns,
including the type of vehicle used to travel to and from the
office and the point of origin of the trip.
Why are scope 3 emissions important? “We had a very
encouraging response rate of 82 percent from our employees,
and we are now looking into conducting similar exercises
with the stakeholders that operate from Malta International
Airport but are not directly employed by the company. The
mapping of our scope 3 emissions, in addition to scope 1 and
2, will allow us to have a much more complete picture of our
carbon footprint and identify emission hot-spots that can be
addressed. The collection of this data is a requirement for
Malta International Airport to be able to advance to Level 3
of the Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme, which was
launched in 2009 to help airports across the globe better
manage their carbon emissions.”

PROMOTION
INVESTING IN SUSTAINABILITY-
RELATED PROJECTS
With Malta International Airport
having recently announced a
€175 million investment plan in
the airport campus, has any of this
expenditure been earmarked for
sustainability-related projects? The answer is a
resounding yes. “The company is currently
laying the groundwork for the airport’s fifth,
and largest, photovoltaic installation on the
airfield, which is quite a feat given its size. If
all goes according to plan, once the farm is
commissioned, Malta International Airport
would be generating the equivalent of 60
percent of its energy consumption from clean
sources.”
“Other investments include a major upgrade
of the HVAC system to allow for the more
energy-efficient heating and cooling of the
terminal building, as well as the continued
replacement of old lighting units with LED
alternatives. Together, these projects will push
Malta International Airport closer to its net
zero target”, explains Justine. “The team is
currently drafting a carbon plan, with the aim
of outlining the strategy and long-term action
plan to become net zero by 2050.”
Between data-gathering, long-term planning
and keeping up with new requirements and
legislation, proper environmental management
within a large organisation is certainly no easy
task. However, Justine feels privileged to be
working alongside some very dedicated people
who have truly understood the importance of
this journey, both for the planet and for the
company itself to remain credible over the
long term. Apart from the more technical side
of environmental sustainability, Malta
International Airport also strives to organise
fun initiatives to get all the team more
engaged, with the next two employee-driven
events being a plant-based lunch and a cleanup
to mark Earth Day.
Above: While Malta International Airport
already generates electricity from several
photovoltaic systems, their team is
currently laying the groundwork for the
airport’s fifth, and largest, photovoltaic
installation on the airfield, which is quite a
feat given its size. Once the farm is
commissioned, the airport would be
generating the equivalent of 60 percent of
its energy consumption from clean sources.
Left: One target Malta International
Airport has been setting for the past few
years, is related to the reduction of the kilos
of carbon dioxide released per passenger
travelling through the airport. While this
stood at 2.3 kilos in 2014, the company
reported an emission intensity of under one
kilo of carbon dioxide for 2022, with this
drop stemming from several energy-related
investments undertaken along the way.
81

PROMOTION
Held each year on 22nd April Earth Day aims to mobilise individuals, businesses
and countries to change human behavior and create global, national and local
policies that limit the negative impact of climate change across the globe.
EARTH DAY 2023
Citadel Insurance Promotes
Sustainability at Every Turn
It’s been 23 years since the first Earth Day was held in the United States, and the need for bold, creative and
innovative solutions at all levels to tackle the environmental crisis, is stronger than ever. Citadel Insurance plc
has always been at the forefront of driving green initiatives and eco-related insurance products which
incentivise customers to shift to cleaner and greener energy solutions, says Angela Tabone,
Managing Director of Citadel Insurance.
been at the forefront
introducing specific
insurance products for
“Having
Eco-Car and Eco-Home in
recognition of both the need to support the
environment and the growing awareness of the
need to change, Citadel Insurance plc’s
reputation as a market-leading,
environmentally-friendly organisation is
second to none. The suite of green insurance
products also includes insurances covering
Photovoltaic Panels, which save on energy bills
while harnessing the year-round long hours of
sunshine Malta and Gozo are blessed with.
In 2008, we first introduced insurance
products specifically rewarding customers who
support sustainable environmental services and
lifestyles. By manufacturing and promoting
insurance-based eco-friendly initiatives we
believe that our long-term strategy to integrate
underwriting criteria for environmental
products launched over the past decade, adds
value to customers who opted to use friendly
client-targeted technologies. We were then, and
clearly still are today, totally committed to
developing new business opportunities and
coverage concepts that we then translate into
sustainable solutions for our customers.
In recognition of one of the 6 pillars of Earth
Day 2023, “The Canopy Project”, as well as to
support the local Tree 4 U campaign, Citadel
Insurance plc will be planting a number of
trees during the next round of tree planting
later on this year. The Company introduced a
fashionable corporate attire which has been
selected in line with Citadel’s philosophy to
bring environmentally sustainable design and
longevity to its work environment.
With the Covid-19 pandemic and the
restrictions at an end, our own internal
Corporate Social Responsibility activity is
gathering momentum. With activities themed
around healthy living, cultural awareness, and
support to those in need already organised, the
focus of our enthusiastic CSR team will turn to
the environmental aspect of our programme.”
Citadel Insurance offers a full range of quality
insurance solutions for life, health, commercial
and other individual solutions. For further
information, one can visit any one of Citadel’s
branches across Malta and Gozo, Citadel’s Head
Office in Floriana, by calling Freephone 8007
2322 or by visiting www.citadelplc.com.
Citadel Insurance plc is a company authorised
under the Insurance Business Act, Cap. 403, to
carry on general and long-term business of
insurance and is regulated by the MFSA.
Photography this page: Rowan Heuvel.
83

WORLD EARTH DAY
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
CLEANER, GREENER,
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
Transport Malta has launched nine schemes which together amount to €26 million to
promote cleaner, smarter and sustainable transport in our country. A total of around
€26 million in grants will be available to the public. This is the largest package of
financial incentives for transport in the form of grants for the promotion of cleaner
and more sustainable transport, says the team at Transport Malta.
84

PROMOTION
Through these schemes, we are
continuing to promote the use
of cleaner and more
environmentally sustainable
means of transport. This is a direct
investment in people, as we are not only
offering them financial help to replace their
vehicle, but also a direct investment in
better air quality. “These grants are a
demonstration of the Government’s
environmental credentials and a
commitment to continue making a
difference in order to achieve our main goal
of working diligently on the subject of
alternative transport,” Minister for
Transport, Aaron Farrugia said.
The first scheme that was launched
consists of an investment of €15 million for
the purchase of new electric vehicles. This
scheme may include the purchase of new
motorbikes for private individuals, nongovernmental
organisations, businesses and
private companies is funded by the recovery
and resilience plan (RRP).
This grant scheme will help with the
purchase of new electric vehicles in EU
Categories L, M and N, consisting of
passenger cars, vans, cargo vehicles,
minibuses, coaches, quadricycles,
motorcycles, and pedelecs, with the aim of
reducing the number of old conventional
motor vehicles from the road.
INCENTIVES FOR CLEANER,
SMARTER TRANSPORT
Other incentives were also launched
this March to promote cleaner and
smarter means of transport. These
schemes encourage vehicle owners to buy
new, low-emission and environmentally
friendly vehicles, or convert their current
vehicle to a cleaner vehicle. The incentives
include:
• Purchase of New and Used Plug-in
Electric Vehicles and Used Electric
Vehicles.
• Purchase of New Category L Vehicles
running on Petrol including Bicycles
New Petrol Motorcycles
• Retrofitting of Dual Fuel Systems on
Heavy-Duty vehicles with Diesel engines
and a scheme to incentivise more Auto
Gas Powered Vehicles.
• Purchase of Wheelchair accessible
Vehicles to be Used for the Transport of
Passengers for Hire or Reward.
• Installation of Approved Photo-Voltaic
Panels on Passenger Transport Vehicles.
• Retro Fitting of Vehicles with the DPF
and SCR Technology
• Repowering of Vehicles and Motorcycles
with an Electric Drive Train
Transport Malta’s Chief Officer for Land
Transport Pierre Montebello said that as a
transport regulator in our country,
Transport Malta is committed to offer more
opportunities to promote better and more
environmentally sustainable transport. “We
launched this scheme precisely for this
reason, and together with other initiatives
such as free public transport, Transport
Malta is ensuring that we have cleaner,
more efficient and sustainable transport in
our country,” he added.
The grants will apply retroactively from
1st January 2023; accessible on
www.transport.gov.mt until
31st December 2023.
85

EXHIBITION
NATIONAL GALLERY LONDON
Saint Francis of Assisi
The first major exhibition in the UK to explore the life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/82–1226), one of
history’s most inspirational and revered figures, will open at London’s National Gallery this spring, from 6th May
to 30th July 2023. Saint Francis of Assisi brings together paintings from across the National Gallery’s collection -
by Sassetta, Botticelli, and Zurbarán - with international loans by Caravaggio, Murillo, and El Greco as well as
works by Stanley Spencer, Antony Gormley, Andrea Büttner, Arte Povera artist Giuseppe Penone, and a new commission from
Richard Long. The exhibition will display over 40 works of art from European and American public and private collections,
spanning more than seven centuries. They will range from medieval painted panels to manuscripts and even a Marvel comic.
The exhibition will shed light on how Saint Francis captured the imagination of artists, and how his universal appeal has
transcended time, continents, and differing religious traditions. Francis believed that nature itself was the mirror of God, and
even preached to the birds and supposedly persuaded a wolf in the Italian town of Gubbio to stop attacking the locals if they
agreed to feed the animal. Many of the stories that surround the life of Francis relate that he had a great love for animals and the
environment, and these stories provided tremendous sources of artistic inspiration.
Saint Francis of Assisi at the National Gallery, London. 6th May - 30th July 2023. Free admission.
86
This page: Stanley Spencer, 1571 - 1610, St Francis and the Birds, 1935. Oil on canvas, 71.3 x 61.2 cm. Tate, London © Estate of Stanley Spencer.
All rights reserved 2023 / Bridgeman Images / photo: Tate.

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