Staff and management of MRCD Ltd started off with dinner celebration on February 5 to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary. It was definitely an enjoyable night which will not be easily forgotten by those who attended.

Bernard and Tanya Cachia, directors of the company, were presented with a silver gift by the staff to mark this occasion.

Mr Cachia said that he has followed the company's growth over the past years from a small shop in Sliema to a larger outlet in Lija, which was presently being refurbished, and eventually to a showroom in Qormi.

He thanked his wife and children for their continuous support and help, and his team who always aim for efficiency in their respective roles.

Mrs Cachia added that they would like to share this celebration with all their esteemed clients. An open week is being held until Sunday, offering between 20 to 60 per cent discount on selected items at MRCD's Qormi showroom.

To further enhance this memorable occasion, MRCD's foreign suppliers are joining in this event, displaying all the latest trends in the flooring and bathroom sector. Ultra-modern, classical and rustic concepts will all be displayed in their individual settings, giving clients an up-to-date version of the current fashion.

Ceramica Eos will be presenting their full range of sanitary ware, as will Natucer with over 50 colours of Klinker steps and matching tiles and rosetons. Diago, Ceracasa, Venus, Baldocer, Gaya and Porcellanicos HDC will display their range of gres, monocottura and wall tiles.

Broil and Sanicril will display their vanity units, while Renaissance and Aquarius Bathrooms will reveal their latest in acrylic baths. Other firms including Plados for kitchen sinks, Pentagono and Grohè for chrome fittings, and Rubi for tile-cutting machines and accessories, have also joined in.

Special price for Woman's Weekly

A special price has been announced for Woman's Weekly magazine: from tomorrow for three consecutive weeks, it will sell at 25c, instead of 66c.

Woman's Weekly is filled with a modern mix of inspiring practices, surprising real-life stories and celebrity reads combined with in-depth advice that every woman can trust. Woman's Weekly is a must-have treat for women.

Woman's Weekly is available at all leading newsagents.

Actavis sponsors Hair & Beauty Marathon

For the third year, Actavis Ltd of Bulebel was one of the main sponsors for the MCAST-Razzett Hair and Beauty Marathon.

The event was organised in aid of Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija's disability programmes on February 10-11. Apart from the sponsorship of Actavis Ltd, this year the employees also contributed by presenting a donation and volunteering on both days to answer donation calls.

The sponsorship is in line with Actavis' strategy to help people who are in need.

Miss Bikini, Manhunt International contests

Vogue Model Management will be organising the Miss Bikini of the Universe (Malta) and Manhunt International (Malta) contests at the Westin Dragonara on April 14.

Last year, Katrin Mari Pavia participated in the Miss Bikini of the Universe contest in China and placed 11 from among 50 contestants. Kevin Bonello, who has just returned from Korea, placed third in the Manhunt Mediterranean contest. The winners will represent Malta at the international finals in China and Korea. Contestants from the age of 15 are eligible to apply. Experience is not necessary as training is provided. The final night will include fashion shows of spring/summer collections and entertainment.

For more information phone 9944-5783 or 7900-0303 or e-mail vogue@onvol.net.

Thomas Smith supports Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija

This year's Thomas Smith Group charity swim took place on New Year's Eve. The charity swim, which dates back to 1998, is organised annually by Thomas Smith staff. This year's beneficiary was Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija.

Over 50 swimmers participated in this year's challenge, with the youngest being 10 and the eldest 70.

"We are pleased to be associated with Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija," Anton Buttigieg said on behalf of Thomas Smith. "We are also glad that the funds will help them continue providing the excellent rehabilitation services for disabled people."

New Frontiers reunion

The New Frontiers group recently held a reunion at their former premises in Floriana. It was a wonderful experience meeting each other, including the founder, Fr Joseph Orr, after so many years since the group winded up 15 years ago.

New Frontiers had been in existence for more than 16 years. Since contact details were limited, only a small number of the more than 150 old members could be contacted. There were members who joined since the very beginning, and others who had joined later, but the spirit of friendship reigned all over, as always.

The group plans to hold another reunion next month. Contact Ray Micallef on jumabechist@yahoo.com

People

CHRISTINA GUILLAU-MIER recently graduated with an M.Sc. in Russian and East European Studies from Hertford College, University of Oxford.

Her thesis, on the music of the Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, was awarded the highest distinction marks of her course and was described by her examiners as a "refined and sophisticated analysis" on the subject.

Having gained her Bachelor's degree from the University of Malta, Ms Guillaumier was awarded a scholarship to read for an M.Mus. in Performance Studies at Royal Holloway College, University of London, graduating in 2004. During her time at Royal Holloway, Ms Guillaumier followed classes convened by internationally renowned music specialists, such as Jim Samson and John Rink, and in collaboration with the Royal College of Music.

In partial fulfilment of her degree, she wrote her dissertation under the supervision of Professor John Rink on the piano music of Prokofiev.

While at the college, Ms Guillaumier studied piano with the acclaimed British pianist James Kirby and also with her previous piano professor from the Royal College of Music, Judith Burton.

During her postgraduate year, she was the resident pianist with the Royal Holloway New Music Ensemble, a role that allowed her to explore her passion for contemporary music.

Ms Guillaumier had chamber music coaching with the Barbican Trio and also premiered works by composers from Greece, Israel and Canada among others.

She has given several recitals notably in London, Reading, Prague and Montreal. She has attended piano master classes by Boris Berman, Hamish Milne, Menahem Pressler and Carola Grindea, among others.

She continues to perform regularly and is particularly active as a collaborative artist both in the field of Russian as well as contemporary music.

Following her year at Royal Holloway, Ms Guillaumier was awarded an academic year scholarship by the Rotary International Foundation that enabled her to pursue her postgraduate music studies further in North America. She studied at the Faculty of Music, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, one of the country's top educational institutions.

On her return from Montreal, Ms Guillaumier was accepted on a highly select course at Oxford University, which specialised in Russian and East European Studies. At Oxford, Ms Guillaumier's supervisors were Professor Archie Brown and Dr Rosamund Bartlett.

Her thesis was awarded the highest distinction marks in the course. Subsequently, she went on to study in Moscow, on a Russian Federation scholarship.

Ms Guillaumier is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama on full scholarship. She has been invited to present papers and lecture-recitals on the topic of Russian Music at the Universities of Portsmouth, Leeds, Goldsmiths College in the UK and McGill University, Montreal.

She started her piano studies in Malta at a very early age, under the tuition of the late Antoinette Degabriele, LRSM, continuing with Tessie Portelli, LRSM, and Karen Briscoe, ARCM Perfs. Dip. RCM. She studied theory and harmony with Cynthia Genovese, BA (Hons), LRSM.

Ms Guillaumier was educated at St Joseph School, Sliema, and St Aloysius' College. She is the daughter of Joseph and Emma Guillaumier of Attard.

DR ALEXIEI DINGLI has just graduated with an MBA from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business, one of the top business schools in Europe and one of the few in the world which can boast the triple accreditation (AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS).

His thesis focused on aligning Operations to Strategy using the Balanaced Score Card approach; he specialised in Technology Management and the degree was awarded with distinction.

Dr Dingli started his studies at De La Salle College; he then proceeded to the University of Malta where he obtained a first class B.Sc.IT (Hons) degree. In view of his undergraduate work, he was offered a post as a researcher at the University of Sheffield in the UK.

While there, he also pursued a Ph.D. in Computer Science focusing on the Internet of the future (the Semantic Web), which he successfully completed in a record time of two-and-a-half-years. His work was rated as world class by a panel of international judges, and his research was published in four posters, nine papers and two book chapters all of which presented at international conferences around the world.

He currently works as senior manager with the Employment and Training Corporation and he also lectures at St Martin's Institute of Technology. In 2005, he was also elected councillor of Valletta for the Nationalist Party.

Dr Dingli, who was born in 1979, is the son of Paul Dingli and Maria Dolores née Carbonaro. He recently married Anna Maria née Degiorgio.

DR MARIELLA BORG BUONTEMPO was recently elected Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of London.

She graduated MD from the University of Malta in 1987. After working at St Luke's Hospital, she proceeded to the UK in 1989 and obtained a Master's in Science from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She trained and worked in several Health Authorities within the UK and obtained membership of the Faculty of Public Health by examination in 2002.

She completed a post-graduate training programme in Public Health leading to the award of Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (UK) in 2003.

Dr Borg Buontempo is currently consultant in Public Health Medicine within the Ministry of Health, her areas of responsibility being quality in healthcare and postgraduate medical education.

She is the chairman of the Specialist Accreditation Committee. Her research interests include health service evaluation, service planning and needs assessments in healthcare.

She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Peter Buontempo. She is married to Dr Andrew A. Borg, consultant rheumatologist, and they have two children, Renée and Matthew.

DR KIRILL MICALLEF-STAFRACE was recently elected Fellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine of the UK.

Sports Medicine and Exercise Science have been an integral part of Dr Micallef-Stafrace's life since he graduated as a doctor from the University of Malta in 1993.

At the first opportunity he left Malta to work in sports medicine, leading to stays in the UK (M.Sc), Italy (Master in Sports Nutrition) and Ireland (FFSEM).

He is currently chairman of the Medical Commission of the Maltese Olympic Committee, a post he has held for the past 10 years. Since 2004, Dr Micallef-Stafrace is also director of marketing of the Maltese Olympic Committee after being elected to the executive.

Dr Micallef-Stafrace delivers lectures on Sports Medicine and Sports Science to medical, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical education students at the University of Malta, besides delivering numerous public talks.

He is currently reading for a D.Health at the University of Bath and is researching the importance of physical activity for Maltese schoolchildren's health.

In 2005, Dr Micallef-Stafrace was elected member of the European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations (EFSMA), a major achievement, as there were seven candidates for this single post. This came about due to the large number of his international and local conference presentations and publications, thereby allowing the Maltese sports and exercise medicine movement to be firmly established within the European sphere.

JOSEPH MICALLEF, who graduated in management, was among graduates at a ceremony held recently at the University of Leicester, UK. He was conferred with a Master's in Business Administration (MBA Employee Relations) focusing his dissertation on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) in Relation to a Social Pact.

ANALIESE MERCIECA, 23, was awarded a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Warwick in Coventry, England.

She was accompanied by her parents, Tony and Josette Mercieca of Attard.

Ms Mercieca currently resides in the UK, where she works for the British government.

Tourist guides in Cairo

The World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WFTGA) last month held its 12th biannual international convention in Cairo, Egypt.

Glorianne Mizzi and Christine Muscat were the Maltese delegates representing the Malta Union of Tourist Guides. Two hundred participants attended the convention.

The WFTGA represents 41 countries, 75 associations, six individual members and nine affiliate members. Twenty-three countries, including Malta, attended the delegates' meeting, which were spread over six days.

Meetings alternated with archaeological excursions, training workshops, discussion groups, lectures and seminars on new developments in tourism.

The WFTGA Convention was an excellent opportunity to network, participate in decision-making procedures concerning tourist guides, exchange ideas and learn from fellow Tourist Guide Associations worldwide.

The next WFTGA Convention is scheduled to take place in Bali in 2009. The MUTG participation was made possible through the help and support of the Malta Tourism Authority.

Getting Married?

For the second year, Le Méridien Phoenicia is holding Wedding Inspirations, from Friday to Sunday.

This open weekend is expected to be very informative and a must for any couple who is thinking of getting engaged or married. Visiting will save you time and money as you can ask questions and gain valuable advice and ideas.

There will be a bridal parade of the latest collections by Ivory & Co. Mrs Jones will also grace the catwalk with a selection of evening wear and dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls. There will also be food-tasting, prepared by Victor Borg, wine-tasting sponsored by Santiago, make-up and hair demonstrations, and much more from 25 experts and professionals from the wedding sector. In addition, there will be plenty of fantastic door prizes to be won and various discounts and special offers.

The open weekend runs on Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10.30 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Bridal parades start at 7 p.m., while advice on make-up, hair and beauty is offered throughout the day. For more information phone 2291-1061 or e-mail Chrystelle.doublesin @malta.lemeridien.com.

For your diary

The bazaar organised by the Malta Hospice Movement at the old Tal-Lira Shop in Zabbar Road, Fgura, will remain open until Saturday. Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information phone 2144-0085/6, or e-mail bernadettehospice@onvol.net.

In the series Rediscovering Valletta by the Malta Historical Society, Salvator Mousù will deliver a lecture in English on the Hidden Treasure of Valletta, at the Main Hotel of Auberge de Castille, tomorrow at 6 p.m. Entrance through St Paul Street.

Ward u Zghar is organising a get-together at the Centru Hidma Socjali on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Breast Care Support Group Europa Donna is organised a talk delivered by John Xerri de Caro of the Lymphodemia Clinic, at the Hospice Movement in Balzan, on Thursday at 5.30 p.m. The same presentation will take place at Kana House, Gozo, on March 6 at 9.30 a.m.

The St Joseph School Past Pupils Association (Sliema) invites all past students, their families and friends to participate in a treasure hunt on Sunday at 2 p.m. Phone Moira Tabone on 2135-3444 or 9940-2223, or Sue Gregory on 2134-6361 or 9945-8103 for more information.

A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor is being held at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on March 7 at 10 a.m. For bookings, phone Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.

A missionary bazaar is being held at Kings Shop, Tower Road, Sliema, from March 8 from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. A large variety of clothes and handbags, crockery, books, shoes and toys will be on sale.

The Malta Floral Club members and their friends will be celebrating Women's Day on March 8 at 11.30 a.m. with Mass at Lourdes Grotto, Floriana, followed by lunch at Lo Squero, Haywharf. The pick-up points will be Gallerija Darmanin, Lija, at 10.30 a.m, and Dingli Circus, Sliema, at 10.45 a.m. For bookings, phone Lily de' Conti Manduca on 2135-4160 or Agnes Mellilo on 2137-8716. Early booking is advisable.

Correction

The photograph of the Stella Maris reunion carried last Sunday had already been published on January 14 with the correct caption.

Slimming UK dinner

Slimming UK recently organised a dinner for those attending the Mosta and St Julian's classes, run by consultant Valerie Portelli Hunt. Kellogg's was one of the main sponsors for the evening.

A lavish buffet of healthy food was laid out. Members were told to forget their diet and enjoy themselves.

Slimming UK promotes a low-fat diet, which includes cereals, bread, fruit and vegetables, together with fish, meat and poultry. Some desserts are also allowed. Most of all, members are taught how to be moderate in what they eat. When food is eaten in moderate amounts, one tends to keep the ideal weight, without missing out on anything. Losing weight makes one feel full of energy and optimism.

The most enjoyable evening came to an end with a raffle, proceeds of which went to charitable institutions. Various gifts were kindly provided by the sponsors - Kellogg's, Paolo Bonnici, Attard & Co., Alfred Gera & Sons, Vascas, Dake Ltd, Crown Cold Stores, Farsons, Plus Sizes of Mosta, Alf. Mizzi & Sons Marketing and the Coastline Hotel.

Ms Portelli Hunt was presented with flowers and a gift.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements - February 26-March 4

Tuesday
10.30 a.m. The President is interviewed by Joseph Kissick from the New York Daily News at the Palace, Valletta.
6.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami preside over a Malta Community Chest Fund board meeting at San Anton Palace.

Wednesday
9.30 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami visit the Poor Clares' Convent in St Julian's.
10 The President visits schools in St Julian's.
10.40 Mrs Fenech Adami visits Casa Leone Elderly Home in St Julian's.
12.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami visit the ITS in St Julian's.
7 p.m. The President meets var-ious NGOs in St Julian's at the Millennium Chapel.

Thursday
9.30 a.m. The President receives the Prime Minister at the Palace.
10 Mrs Fenech Adami presides over a Malta Community Chest Fund working committee meeting.
10.30 The President is presented with funds collected from the Christmas Concert Fund organised by the Ministry of Finance, in aid of MCCF, by Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech.
11 The President receives Archbishop Paul Cremona.
11.45 The President receives the president and officers of the Chamber of Commerce.

Friday
10.30 a.m. The President receives Chinese Ambassador Lui Zhengxiu on a farewell call at the Palace.
11.30 The President visits the Maghtab Engineered Landfill.

Saturday
7.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a concert of Operatic Excerpts and Songs by Miriam Gauci accompanied by the National Orchestra under the direction of Mro Michael Laus, at the Grandmaster's Suite, Hilton.

Sunday
9.30 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami pay an official visit to St Julian's.

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