All eyes and ears

What is it like to live in a silent world, where it seems no one can understand you and you cannot hear anything? How does it feel to grope around in darkness, trying to clutch on to some form of independence?

PINK's December issue, out with The Times tomorrow, follows women who have lost one of their senses to understand life without sight and sound.

The reality is that the world of the deaf is not that quiet but increasing the overall use of sign language would allow the 1,000 registered deaf persons to be more integrated into society and not restricted to their circles.

Some still communicate through lip reading, showing deaf awareness is not that fine-tuned. And what the blind desperately need is mobility and orientation training to increase their independence. They want to learn how to navigate the hazardous streets, use public transport and live on their own... to be freer.

PINK highlights their issues through the eyes of a woman whose sight completely deteriorated by the age of 20, following an eye infection at five from a swimming outing, but who did not drown in darkness.

These moving stories are part of a profile on the five senses, which also delves into the world of the sixth sense, meeting Malta's psychics, whose roles have gone beyond merely foretelling the future and who are being sought for solutions to problems.

The festive season has not gone unnoticed in PINK, which has come up with some gift ideas - even stocking-sized for the house and jewellery to fit all purses.

And, as its own present for 2010, the Pantene Hair of the Year calendar is up for grabs in the heart of the magazine. Twelve local girls have been selected for the shine in their hair - but also the sparkle in their eyes and the spark in their mind - to accompany readers through the next 12 months.

Apart from the future, PINK also looked back at the last year, listing the women who have made noise in 2009. For some reason - good, bad, or ugly - they hit the headlines and are now featured in a colourful and chronological roundup that is also a snapshot of the female angle of the year.

Published by Allied Newspapers Ltd and printed by Progress Press Ltd, Pink's executive editor is Fiona Galea Debono. The magazine is produced by MediaMaker and des-igned by Helen Cassar Torreggiani and Joseph Schembri.