Following UK-UY links - British Embassy - December 2020
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December 2020
British Embassy
Following UK-UY links
Dr. Adriana de Abreu
Myths About Botox
Chef Phillip’s Corner
Panettone
www.britsoc.org.uy
Contents President:
President’s Words. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Richard A. Empson
Member News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 president@britsoc.org.uy
BSU Christmas 2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 096 233 233
The Sir Winston Churchill Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
British Embassy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Vice President:
Anglo-Uruguayan Cultural Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Colin Shearer
The Anglo School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 vp@britsoc.org.uy
British Hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 095 022 055
Christ Church Montevideo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
British-Uruguayan Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Dickens Institute. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Secretary:
Food for Thought. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Caroline Stanham
Literature Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 secretary@britsoc.org.uy
Medical Column. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 099 155 317
Back in Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Chef Phillip’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Treasurer:
Growing Up Chinese in Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Ricardo Medina
Speedy Crossword Time!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 treasurer@britsoc.org.uy
Dilbert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 094 547 279
Lamb Chops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Link of the Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Events:
Andrea Davies
events@britsoc.org.uy
099 123 906
Webmaster and Newsletter Editor:
Geoffrey W Deakin
editor@britsoc.org.uy
British Embassy 098 586 168
Following UK-UY links
Page 6 Chair of the Sir Winston Churchill
Home and Benevolent Funds:
Carolyn Cooper
Dr. Adriana de Abreu swch@britsoc.org.uy
Myths About Botox 099260953
Page 14
BSU CONTACT Newsletter
www.britsoc.org.uy
Chef Phillip’s Corner www.facebook.com/BritSocUy
Panettone www.instagram.com/BritSocUy
Page 19 www.linkedin.com/company/britsocuy/
Montevideo, Uruguay
Edition Number 128 Year 11
December 2020 +598 96 021 918
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
PRESIDENT’S WORDS
Dear members,
8½ months after the onset of coronavirus, the Our social media continues to be a good source of
pandemic seems to have surged in Uruguay. contact with those of you who follow our accounts
Tiredness and laziness on the part of the general on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Facebook
population – the young in particular – seem to have and Instagram in particular became an intense
helped revive COVID-19 in the country. Just a few source of interaction when we launched a poll to
days ago, the number of new cases in a single day discover what our followers considered to be the
surpassed one hundred for the first time; and since best British football team. We had previously had
then it happened on several occasions. This is way very good results with our polls to discover what
too many for one of the few countries in the world followers considered to be the best British series on
that had the pandemic under control over the first Netflix and the composition of the ideal British rock
eight months. The increase in cases began in late band. Look forward to other such polls to vote for
September, after almost all public activities were your favourites!
reopened, and infected people from neighbouring Regarding social media, you will be glad to know
countries were allowed to circulate freely. However, that our number of followers has continued to grow
the geometric progression of active cases, which on all. We currently have over 6200 followers on
many other countries suffered, did not occur then. Facebook, over 5800 on Instagram and over 400 on
Because of that, much of Uruguayan society, fed up LinkedIn (our newest account). For a small Society
with a situation that seems endless, let its guard like ours with barely over 500 members, those are
down. And now we are starting to pay the not bad numbers! If any of you are on social media
consequences. and do not yet follow us, you should give us a go…
In view of the situation, your Society has decided to many who are not even part of the British community
cancel all face-to-face activities again until further enjoy our content. Look us up @BritSocUy.
notice. The health of you, our members, is I hope you have enjoyed our activities throughout
paramount to us, so we are backtracking and going this very peculiar year and that you will join us for
fully virtual until the situation is once again under those we will set up for you throughout 2021, which
control. I promise will be equally interesting and
November saw our sixth Online Forum, featuring entertaining.
Soledad Chiarino from the firm Abito, which special- As this is the last 2020 edition of our newsletter, I
ises in sustainable waste management. She enlight- use this opportunity to wish you and your loved
ened us on the current situation of recycling in ones a very merry Christmas and a happy New
Uruguay, what can be recycled and what can’t, Year! May 2021 be kinder to all of us than this year
where what we classify goes, how to classify waste has been.
at home, and what we can do in our day to day life
at home to reduce waste and environmental
contamination, among other things. Participants Richard A. Empson MBE
were greatly interested in the talk and made President
numerous questions, which our guest answered in
detail. Given that this month is taken up by end-of-
the-year events, it has been difficult to locate an
available lecturer, so we will leave our next Online
Forum for 2021.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 1
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020 MEMBER NEWS Birthdays in December 01 Norman A. Fox 01 María T. Esteche 03 Mark Rosevear 04 Cristina A. Edbrooke 05 Stephanie A. Biscomb 06 Matias M. Campbell 07 Guillermo L. Symonds 07 Emily Teuten 08 Mónica M. Bastarrica 10 Alice L. Vignoles 10 Roy L. Cooper 10 Valerie M. Dee 10 Sofía Scherschener 15 Victor J. Lyford-Pike 15 Marta Vilar del Valle 15 María M. De Torres 15 Alexander J. Shaw 15 Alan J. Gordon-Firing 17 Jessica M. MacIntyre 18 Daniel J. Stewart 18 María N. Coates 20 Celina A. Burmester 20 Megan M. Davies 21 Elizabeth S. Hyland 21 Enrique Morrone 21 Inés Beare 21 Marina S. Jiménez de Arechaga 22 María J. Llovet 22 Ricardo D. Medina 23 Edison De León 23 Winston E. Willans 24 Lucille Robinson 24 María N. Delbono 27 Daniela J. Golby 28 Carlos G. Verdún 30 Isabel P. Prevett 30 Mary E. Wells 30 Caroline L. Wells 30 Nicholas Drever 31 Adriana M. Ponzoni www.britsoc.org.uy Page 2
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
THIS MONTH’S COVER
Returning for its eighth year, Kew’s sell-out
winter trail is back with old favourites and brand
new light installations, bringing a touch of magic
to the London festive calendar. Visitors can
expect bursts of colour and enchanting optics
as they explore Kew Gardens’ UNESCO World Our cover:
Heritage landscape after dark. A roster of The Royal Botanical Gardens,
Kew’s now famous light show
internationally acclaimed artists is set to adorn during Christmas time.
Christmas at Kew with a feast of art, light and
music at every turn.
May the calories of the holidays disappear by
New Year.
Merry Christmas!
Geoffrey W Deakin
Editor
BSU MEMBERSHIP FEES
Notice to Society Members
The British Society would like to kindly remind all
members who have not yet done so to get up to date with
their membership fees.
Remember you can now do this easily from the comfort
of your own home using any local debit card and most
credit cards through the RedTickets platform.
And if you forgot to pay last year’s fee (or any previous
unpaid dues), you can simply pay two or more at the
same RedTickets link or by visiting our Website.
Else you can make a bank transfer (or direct deposit) to
the British Society account at Banque Heritage Uruguay
number 62582-03, or pay our Treasurer (in copy) directly.
If done by bank transfer/deposit, please send our
Treasurer a copy of the transfer/deposit slip. 2020
Once this is done, your membership will be updated.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 3
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020 BSU CHRISTMAS 2020 www.britsoc.org.uy Page 4
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
THE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL HOME
Warmer Weather
Even though this year was a difficult and different
one, for some of us it also brought nice moments.
We all miss Peter quite a lot at the Home. He was
such a fun person to be with, always sharing his
anecdotes with us. This year also saw the arrival
of Kenn from the city of Carmelo, bringing with him
many interesting stories and adventures of far
away places.
A very special thanks to all our Carers who lovingly
look after our residents. They are always there to
take care and also entertain and chat with all of
them. Even in these days of strict confinement, we
can count on them for their support and
dedication.
On behalf of the Sir Winston Churchill Home
Committee, we wish you all a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Let 2021 banish worry, doubt, and fear, to love
and laugh and give!
It’s Friday!!! Nibbles time!
Our residents always look forward to Friday evenings
to enjoy some “copetines” and catch up with the latest
news.
Three times a week, Adriana, our physiotherapist,
comes and visits the Home and makes sure that
everyone exercises.
She also leaves homework exercises for the other
days of the week.
Kenn finally managed to get in touch with his relatives
living all over the world via Zoom online meetings.
You can see him chatting with his niece and other
relatives.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 5
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
BRITISH EMBASSY
Oceans Conference
Ambassador Faye O’Connor participated at
the opening of the Oceans Conference at Torre
Ejecutiva, together with Uruguayan government
authorities and the organisers, “Oceanos Sanos”. In
her speech, the Ambassador told the audience that
the UK is advocating to protect at least 30% of the
world’s oceans as marine protected areas and other
effective conservation measures by 2030, known as
the 30by30 target. Over 30 countries have joined the
Global Oceans Alliance, which supports this target,
and she encouraged Uruguay to do the same in the
near future.
Ceprodih
The Falkland Islands Government, as part of its efforts with several Uruguayans who have visited the
to contribute to the Coronavirus relief response, made Falkland Islands. They all learnt about the amazing
a donation to Ceprodih, a Uruguayan not-for-profit job that this organisation does to empower women
association which assists vulnerable women. On 25 and participated in a virtual meeting with Members of
November, International Day for the Elimination of the Legislative Assembly from the Islands.
Violence against Women, Ambassador O’Connor More information on our social media.
had the pleasure of visiting the institution, together
Following UK-UY links
The Ambassador started her tour of the interior with a family outing to
Colonia, touring some of the places that reflect British heritage in
Uruguay. They enjoyed their time in Conchillas, including a visit to Casa
Evans, walked around “Rincón de Darwin”, following in the footsteps of
the famous British naturalist in Punta Gorda, and also met Hampshire
Down sheep breeders.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 6
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
ANGLO-URUGUAYAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE
ANGLO SUMMER COURSES PROGRAMME, FEBRUARY 2021
The ANGLO Summer Courses Programme for adults Focus on Pronunciation: raising awareness at all
provides an opportunity to improve your level of levels about the intricacies of the English
English over an intensive (4.5 hours per week) 4-week phonological system is also a key component of our
training. Divided in 4 levels, our summer programme Summer Courses program.
enables you to improve your skills whilst enjoying the
academic study environment typical of all ANGLO Extensive feedback: we understand feedback as
courses. the essential component to every learning process.
Our experienced teachers identify areas in need of
Some of the courses strengths and takeaways: improvement and, through detailed specific and
personalized feedback, ease the transition from
Expert teaching: the students benefit from being where each student currently is as far as his
taught by experienced English teachers command of the language goes and where they
aspire to be.
Develop your confidence: enhance your English
language skills in small class sizes Hands-on practice: individual, in pairs and collective
oral practice is part and parcel of our classroom
Flexible learning approach: enables us to support dynamics.
your individual study goals and adapt to your interests
and specific needs Face-to-Face or Synchronic On-line: students can
opt between these two formats, the traditional
Academic approach: our lessons are interactive and classroom face-to-face dynamics and the remote
promote learning through topical themes that result synchronic on-line class.
from an initial exhaustive in-depth needs analysis
process For more than 15 year the ANGLO Summer Courses
Programme has made a difference for hundreds of
Emphasis on Communication: our summer students, enhancing their confidence and bettering
courses pivot around the development of the two main their command of the English language. We hope you
skills essential for effective communication (listening join us this next February 2021, we would be
and speaking) by means of strengthening your honoured to accompany you in the pursuit of both
grammar foundations and expanding and activating your academic and personal goals.
your passive lexical system. it of both your academic and personal goals.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 7
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020 ANGLO-URUGUAYAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE Continued... www.britsoc.org.uy Page 8
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
THE ANGLO SCHOOL
THE ANGLO SCHOOL AND CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL
We are honoured to have been selected by
Cambridge International to be part of a Cambridge
International Languages Policy Guide which is being
developed to:
· to introduce some of the key principles about
language in education
· to encourage schools to reflect on their
whole-school approach to languages
· and to offer some practical suggestions in
key areas.
Having been identified as a bilingual school that has
been successful in the implementation of its language
policy, we have been asked to share our experience
as an example of good practice to share with
Cambridge schools around the world.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 9The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020 BRITISH HOSPITAL New modern clinic and centre It is with great pride that we share news about the In this way, the British Hospital enhances the inauguration of the new building that will open next development of the two pillars that accompany and week. support the healthcare it provides to its members: With more than 4,500 square meters, the new building medical education and research. has a contemporary architectural design, innovative The inauguration was attended by the Secretary space management and beautiful views of the city, of the Presidency of the Republic, Alvaro Delgado, while blending perfectly into its surroundings. the Minister of Public Health, Daniel Salinas, the The 52 new consulting rooms, all with their respective undersecretary of the portfolio, José Luis Satdjian, waiting rooms, were designed with a functional and the Director General of Health, Miguel Asqueta, comfort criterion that our members and users expect the Director General of Junasa, Luis González from us. In addition, the built-in technology allows Machado, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, maximum energy savings. Faye O’Connor, and the President of the Chamber of The new building has an entire floor exclusively Deputies, Martín Lema. dedicated for auditoriums, intended to house the The authorities were welcomed by the Director General various academic, training, and ongoing educational of the British Hospital, Walter Pereyra, and by the programmes which are carried out within the framework chairman of the Board of Directors, Martin Wells, along of the policy that the British Hospital aims to develop. with whom they toured the new facilities. www.britsoc.org.uy Page 10
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
CHRIST CHURCH MONTEVIDEO
Christmas at Christ Church
The lady said to the Pastor: “Your message was so Someone said: listening is loving. Since the
much better than the person I listened to online last Scriptures teach that “love” is the best way, then
week!” The pastor felt very complimented until she listening must be a big part of our lives. I hope you
explained herself. “Last week the preacher took an that every day you can enjoy something new you
hour to say nothing, but you managed to do it in are learning by listening to those around you, even
only fifteen minutes.” That could have been me. Our during stress and conflict. Our Advent Services are
Sunday teaching time lasts less than 15 minutes, but online, and the chapel is frequently available for
hopefully everyone hears something encouraging, private prayer and reflection in a beautiful, peaceful
practical, and relevant to their life. I never preached space.
for an hour, but I have come close in the past. Not Come before Christmas and practice silent, listening
anymore, thankfully. Our time on Zoom and in person prayer. You will find your heart encouraged!
is more of a opportunity to listen to each other. Contact us online anytime for info, conversation or if
Everyone is given space to respond. Zoom can be you need someone who will listen.
more fun than live because of the mute function. But
live interactions can be unexpectedly refreshing. Pastor John Hamilton
Communication technology has never been better,
but has our capacity for mutually engaging dialogue
improved? Arocena 1907
Esq. Lieja, Carrasco
Tel 2601 0300
www.christchurchmvd.org
UR
VIE W O E
G
M E S SA
E
O N LI N
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 11The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
BRITISH-URUGUAYAN CLUB
JOIN MEETING ONLINE
Gabriel Gurméndez Armand-Ugon (59) is an indus-
trial engineer from the University of the Republic of
Uruguay with studies in economics and business
management. He has been Minister of Transport and
Public Works; Director and twice President of ANTEL
(national telecommunications company). He was also
interim President of OSE (running water), AFE
(railways) and ANCAP (oil).
In July 2020, he was appointed President of Antel.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 12The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020 DICKENS INSTITUTE www.britsoc.org.uy Page 13
The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Dr. Adriana de Abreu
MYTHS ABOUT BOTOX andreabreu001@hotmail.com
Botulinum toxin – commonly known by its • Wrinkles get worse once the effect wears off:
abbreviation “botox” – is a drug that ever more FALSE
indications in medicine for the treatment of multiple Once the effect is completely gone, in general there
ailments such as facial paralysis, dystonia, voiding is an improvement with respect to the initial state,
spasm, migraines, palmoplantar and axillary hyper- since for the 4 to 6 months that the effect lasts the
sweating among others. Its positive effect in the muscles are relaxed, thus reducing the depth of the
adjuvant treatment of depression is currently being wrinkles and slowing down skin aging.
studied. • The application of botulinum toxin causes loss of
Botox has also been widely used in aesthetic expression: FALSE
medicine for more than 30 years with excellent This is one of the most feared effects among patients.
results, but there are still persistent myths about The correct application and in suitable doses by a
its use. The first to be used was the “Botox” brand doctor trained in the technique has excellent results
originated in the United States, though currently generating muscle relaxation with a natural effect.
there are a number of commercial brands. • Botulinum toxin plumps wrinkles and plumps lips:
Let’s talk about the most frequent myths that circulate FALSE
regarding botulinum toxin. Together with the previous one, it is one of the most
frequent myths or confusions. Botulinum toxin does
not generate volume. It acts on the muscles reducing
expression lines. The volume of the lips is made with
the application of fillers such as Hyaluronic Acid.
• The use of botulinum toxin is addictive and
generates a rebound effect: FALSE
The results are so natural that they restore freshness
to the face, generating a feeling of well-being, but it
does not have any chemical properties that make it
physically addictive or have a rebound effect.
• The application of botulinum toxin is harmful to
health: FALSE
The concentration of toxin used in the injections is
minimal and totally harmless, except in cases clearly
contraindicated for its use, which are identified by
prior questioning of the patient. Its effects do not
• Botulinum toxin is only for older women: FALSE spread outside the diffusion area. Moreover, as
Botulinum toxin is not only used in women, but also I said above, it is used more and more in various
in men who want to improve their appearance. It areas of medicine for a growing number of ailments.
can be applied from the age of 30, depending on
the condition of the skin, the presence of dynamic About the author: Adriana de Abreu is a qualified
wrinkles and the psychosocial significance for the dermatologist who has worked for many years at the
patient. More and more it is used for preventive Hospital Militar. She also runs her own Aesthetics
purposes rather than as a treatment of already Clinic (Happiness Estética: @happinessestetica.uy,
installed wrinkles. 092629364, happinessestetica@gmail.com).
• Botulinum toxin application is painful: FALSE
Although botulinum toxin is applied by means of
micro-punctures with a mesodermal needle, there
are few puncture points, so it is very well tolerated,
although in those more sensitive patients anaesthetic
creams or cold can be applied to the area to be
treated.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 14The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Tomas Linn
FOOD FOR THOUGHT tomas.linn50@gmail.com
Opening up
“Poor Uruguay. Eighty percent of its exports do not The conversations had just begun, Uruguay had a
get the benefits of a free trade agreements”. These lot to negotiate and eventually see of it was conven-
are not the words of some Uruguayan expert at the ient or not. But it never reached that far. The Frente
Foreign Affairs Ministry. They were recently said by Amplio would have none of it.
the British Ambassador to Uruguay, Faye O’Connor, There is a new government now and it should start
when interviewed by Montevideo’s daily El País. exploring eventual advantageous agreements. If
The amazing thing is that she only very recently only to make up for time lost. One ray of hope is the
arrived to her new post but is quickly understanding advanced but not fully concluded agreement
where are the country’s main problems. “This means between the European Union and Mercosur. Yet
that eight of every ten exports, have to pay full there is a persisting feeling that though everything
tariffs”, she added. seems neatly adjusted, some unexpected new
For many years Uruguay’s different governments obstacle is doomed to appear.
have been reluctant to sign these agreements when The new British ambassador is the first one to come
the chance was there to do so. in representation of a United Kingdom that is entirely
The most remembered case happened in 2006: on its own. The previous one, Ian Duddy, came to
president Tabaré Vázquez was eager to be part of Uruguay when the Brexit operation was not fully
an agreement with the United States (there was a completed.
deadline to do so) which in the end was never Facts are facts, and they can sometimes be very
reached. It is a train, said the president, that comes harsh. Despite Brexit, a free trade agreement with
by your station once in a lifetime and we cannot let it Uruguay is not yet a priority for the UK. As ambas-
go by, we must hop in. sador O’Connor explained, first they will negotiate
But we let it go by. We did not hop in. Uruguay’s with the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and
partners in Mercosur were against it and the party to Japan.
which the president belonged (the Frente Amplio) And then, and only then, there might be a chance for
was also against it. Mercosur. Which rises the next question: Uruguay
A trade agreement with Chile was finally signed, but would certainly be delighted to reach an agreement
Parliament took its time. Again, the president was with the UK. But what about the rest of Mercosur?
Vázquez (in his second term) and again it was his And specially, what about Argentina?
own party that was delaying the process. The Frente This is where Uruguay is dramatically trapped. It
Amplio finally gave its votes, but with scarce cannot go too far with Mercosur but negotiating
enthusiasm. outside of Mercosur is something other countries try
When the experts of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to avoid. It is easier for them to make a big deal, with
were negotiating the difficult but most interesting a large package in a great market.
Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), once more the A small but up to the point book was published by
party gave an emphatic order to stop the whole Nicolás Albertoni this year where he defends the
process. idea that we must see Uruguay as a solution, not a
problem. And the solution is a swift and efficient
international integration. He warns that while we
gradually and wearily walk towards better trade
agreements, our competitors (Australia, New
Zealand), run faster, get there before, and agree
better conditions.
It will take time and effort, but on trade Uruguay
needs to change its attitude and get rid of its reluc-
tance to open up. It will certainly be for the benefit of
the people.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 15The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Lindsey Cordery
LITERATURE MATTERS lcordery@gmail.com
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Bernardine Evaristo won the 2019 Booker Prize with director whose play The Last Amazon of Dahomey is
her eighth novel, Girl, Woman, Other - the first black premiering at the National. She has spent decades in
British woman to be awarded the prize. In a recent the theatrical wilderness, ‘a renegade lobbing hand
interview she said: “I love the fact that my work is out grenades at the establishment that excluded her’.
there and being read by so many people. That gives Now, though, tastes have changed, and her work is
me such joy. I have been publishing since 1994, and in demand. In this section we also meet Yazz, her 19-
I really wasn’t reaching many people. And now I am. year- old daughter, plus members of Yazz’s “squad”
And I’m reaching them with a radical, experimental at university. Yazz’s Dad is Dr Roland Quarty, first
book, about 12 primarily black British women. And Professor of Modern Life at the University of London,
the fact that I got to No 1 in the paperback hit parade, and a well-known media figure. The third woman in
and won the Booker, might mean that the doors this chapter is Dominique, Amma’s close friend, who
finally do open to a bigger number falls in love and goes off to the States.
and variety of writers and genres.” In the next section are Carole, an
The book is radical and Oxford University graduate executive,
experimental, it’s true: at times whose mother Bummi, originally from
you feel the rhythms of poetry, and Nigeria with a degree in mathematics
the long lines of Walt Whitman, for -her husband Augustine had a PhD
example, and it’s also wonderfully in Economics- is a cleaner. Carole
readable. Told through the voices met LaTisha, the third woman in
of 12 — mostly black — women, this section, at the school she wants
it covers the span of recent black to forget. Shirley, a teacher at the
British history, from 1905 to 2017. school who feels she’s responsible for
Spanning a century, Evaristo’s 12 Carole’s Oxford scholarship, is in the
main characters cover the stages of womanhood fourth section, together with Winsome, her mother,
from adolescence to old age. Each chapter begins and Penelope. Winsome arrived in England in 1953
with a West African Adinkra drawing symbolising from Barbados with her husband, with others of
a salient quality of that section’s protagonists. The the so-called “Windrush Generation” -latterly, the
novel explores how race, sexuality, gender, history, Windrush Scandal which broke in 2018. Evaristo
and economic stratification intersect to define the stated in an interview that she finds it “shocking
experiences of the women in the novel. As the that people don’t understand Britain’s involvement
stories of their lives unfold, reaching back to parents in slavery” - a fact, by the way, underlying Jane
and grandparents, we come to see that all of them Austen’s Mansfield Park. The fourth chapter has
have experienced some form of oppression, and Megan/Morgan, and their Granny Hattie, who lives
that resilience is their unifying trait. It’s a book about on a farm in Northumberland, and is in her nineties.
struggles, but also about joy, love and imagination. Hattie’s story reaches back to the war years when
Some of the women, and men, are migrants, a lot she met her husband, Slim, one of the GI’s stationed
of them born and raised in Britain, the only country in England. They had a happy marriage, with several
they know. Class comes into the book too, because children, living on the farm Hattie inherited from
it explores a number of women who start their lives her parents. Through her, we learn the story of her
at the bottom of the ladder and then work their way mother Grace, and Grace’s mother Daisy, taking us
up; it also shows how black people are so often back to 1905, and of her father, and of the secret
perceived as stereotypes. source of the land they own.
The book is divided into four chapters each giving Chapter five is the After-party, that is, the party
voice to three characters; there is a final chapter following Amma´s hugely successful play, bringing
which brings many of the twelve women, plus several together most of the characters, whose lives, in one
male characters, together at a final party, with a way or another intersect, for a celebration.
very surprising revelation left to an epilogue. In the And then the epilogue…
opening chapter is Amma, an avant-garde theatre Girl, Woman, Other is well-worth reading.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 16The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Dr Jorge C Stanham OBE
MEDICAL COLUMN jorgestanham@yahoo.com
Demonising Youth
Once upon a time, somewhere between last February and Recently, the younger generations have been targeted by
April, the world was shocked by images on international governments, the healthcare and medical establishment,
TV networks, showing Italian army lorries transporting and the media, as responsible for these widespread
coffins in the middle of the winter night, hectares of surges. Our Health Minister has posted on social media
urgent gravedigging in Brazil, makeshift hospitals in a warm and affectionate plea directed to young people
New York’s Central Park and cultural centres, body-bags to take care of themselves and others and our President
(with bodies) strewn in corridors in hospitals, refrigerated repeatedly insists on the same subject. An already
containers doubling as morgues in major US cities, viralised German publicity spot depicts an elderly man,
dead bodies in the streets of cities in Ecuador and other in the year 2060 or later, describing how his generation
terrifying Armageddon-evoking situations. The immediate in 2020, became heroes by only ‘doing nothing’, with
consequence was panic, fear and terror of what was to rather depressing images of horribly bored youngsters
come. Lockdowns were the norm, people scrambled slouching on sofas and dozing off.
to stockpile home supplies and obtain surgical masks, Yes: the young need to take better care of themselves
which disappeared from pharmacies and stores. Inside and all of us. But why do we have to insist on this – now?
stories described how health professionals were trying As Uruguyan psychologist-cum-influencer Alejandro
to cope with surges of critical patients and the shortage DeBarbieri clearly describes in his book ‘Educar sin culpa’
of protective equipment, many falling ill and some dying. (‘Educating without guilt’), the behaviour of adolescents
The aim which unified all was: “Flatten the curve!” – and and young people is to a great extent the reflection
many cities, regions, and countries (Uruguay included) of how they were brought up by their parents. Broad
did a pretty god job of it. freedom unbalanced by responsibility; the ‘right’ to have
Unfortunately, stupidity and selfishness, mostly in the fun without consequences; the ‘need to avoid frustration’
form of politicisation of the response to the pandemic lest it ‘stress’ or ‘depress’ them; the disqualification of
was rampant. The most notorious example is probably their teachers by over-protective, demanding – and
the USA, but the UK had its share of messing things up, even litigious – parents, leads to a nihilistic attitude with
as were the chaos in Brazil and the disorderly response respect to the norms which make the fabric of society
in Argentina, to be followed now, when the northern work… as is awfully evident in these pandemic times. As
autumn and winter arrived, by opposition, riots and revolt, Alejandro rightly says: adults are setting a bad example,
simultaneous with the more deadly second wave of the because they avoid becoming adults and set logical and
pandemic, as seen in Spain, Italy and Germany. When reasonable limits to their offspring.
the world was supposed to be united against a common As I write this article (Brazil 2 – Uruguay 0 happened last
enemy, akin to an alien invasion, many believed that their night) the news of a progressive number of Uruguayan
entitlement to rights and freedom was more important team players (starting with Luis Suárez) becoming
than common sense, forgetting that those same rights positive with COVID-19 is making headlines. These are
and freedom were obtained via the sacrifice and lives of no youngsters: they are professionals playing in major
many generations who fought for them, either in wars or leagues worldwide. The image of nine of them, without
through political activism. masks, separated from each other by less than 1 metre,
When these second waves appeared, it became evident around a fire, even if outdoors, speaks loudly of how
that one of the main differences was that the ages of those supposed to behave like adults are setting a bad
those who were becoming infected was clearly lower example. Similar attitudes are unfortunately seen in
than during the first wave, which had hit the elderly, the some parents of primary and secondary schoolchildren,
dependent and the already sick worst, especially when which seem to prioritise the ‘right’ of their children to
the virus found its way into residential homes. Many of socialising and fun above responsibility to others and
the recent second waves were contact-traced to super- society as a whole.
spreader events, like political or activist rallies, parties, This pandemic is analogous to a natural disaster and a
family, social and religious gatherings. As the younger war, with the difference that we can barely see or hear
generations were less affected by the severity of the the enemy. I hope that someday, humanity will make use
illness, many of the super-spreader events like parties, of this historic moment, to press the RESET button and
musical shows and gathering at parks, were considered get its priorities right. Naming, shaming, and blaming
the main culprit – and for obviously good reasons: the the younger generation is cannot be the main strategy
young were simply taking advantage of their biology. and avoids questioning the world which we adults have
created, which set us up for what is happening.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 17The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Tony Beckwith
BACK IN TIME tony@tonybeckwith.com
The Gift of Friendship
It was Christmas Eve in San Miguel de Allende. We sat courtyard. The mood was one of gracious hospitality.
in the Jardín, the main plaza across from the church We had fresh mozzarella and tomato salad, and shrimp
in this small town perched high in the mountains of and mushrooms in garlic-laden olive oil. According to
central Mexico. It was about noon. Iron benches facing Basque tradition, Christmas is the season to enjoy a
inwards and outwards surrounded the gazebo that was dish of bacalao, dried cod cooked in tomato sauce in the
decorated as a nativity scene. A dense green canopy style made famous in Bilbao. The restaurant provided
of leaves formed an archway over the outer ring of the an excellent version. Over dinner we cemented
plaza—the promenading circuit—leaving the gazebo’s our friendship with a free-flowing conversation that
roof open to the impeccably blue sky. celebrated the miles we had all travelled and the stops
A man and a woman walked down the church steps, we had made along the way. Later in the evening,
crossed the road, and strolled arm-in-arm through as we lingered over coffee and the last of the wine,
the Jardín. They fascinated us from the moment we a quartet strolled into the courtyard and played a
saw them. They looked Italian. Well, he looked Italian. couple of lovely boleros. They came by our table and
She could have been from almost anywhere around asked if we would like to request a song. Fulvio asked
the Mediterranean. They were elegantly dressed in for Nosotros, a romantic ballad, and then delighted
a sharp, European style. His white hair was slicked everyone by singing along in a splendid voice. He had
back, and his profile evoked an ancient empire. She mentioned in passing that he had once had a career
was evidently younger than he. Her hair was black, on the stage, but of course we had no idea how good
and she was perfectly poised. They appeared to be in he really was. The musicians loved it and asked him
silent, intimate communication with each other. to sing another song. Virginia smiled proudly as Fulvio
Our friend Ros Campbell, the Australian painter, had serenaded us with the incredibly beautiful Solamente
invited us to a tea party that afternoon and, to our una vez, by Agustín Lara.
surprise, we found our fascinating couple saying hello It was late when we left the restaurant. The streets
to our hostess as we arrived. They were Virginia and were quiet and ghostly as we wandered back to
Fulvio and were as delightful in person as we had thought our hotels. The town seemed to have slipped into
them intriguing from a distance. Some friendships— its old colonial identity, and the shadowy outlines of
like some shipboard romances—click quickly, from the the rooftops looked like a skyline in southern Spain.
first hello. Such was this one. We sipped tea and made The church bells rang the hour and the cloudless sky
short work of a plate of Ros’s cucumber sandwiches disappeared into the distance above us. San Miguel
and told each other our life stories. One thing led to was bewitching by starlight. We entertained fabulous
another and we all had Christmas lunch together the ideas about quitting our jobs and coming to settle
following day at a local hotel. An unhurried, thoroughly there, to write and sing and try our hand at freedom.
enjoyable affair, not unlike the family ritual back home. We felt on top of the world.
The sun was going down as we parted company, and
we made plans to meet again.
A couple of nights later we rendezvoused with Virginia
and Fulvio in the Jardín and went to dinner together.
Unbeknownst to us, he had called around to find a
restaurant with live music. It was a chilly evening, and
we walked the few blocks to La Bugambilia. We stepped
off the narrow sidewalks onto the cobbled streets
and back again, weaving around other pedestrians,
chatting comfortably in the crisp mountain air. A waiter
took us through a charming courtyard to a table beside
a fireplace. The warmth and flickering light from the
hearth seemed to envelop us in a cocoon of refined
wellbeing. Silverware sparkled on white linen napkins.
The room was decorated in a spare Spanish way, with
cream-coloured stucco walls and a tiled floor. Stone
archways led to different dining areas around the
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 18The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Phillip Berzins
CHEF PHILLIP’S CORNER sbpberzins@hotmail.com
Panettone
Panettone is an Italian type of sweet bread
originally from Milan. Typically candied fruits
and raisins are added. In this version I have
added pieces of chocolate, dried blueberries
and almonds.
Basically the recipe is a brioche-like enriched
bread recipe with a pre ferment of poolish
which ensures the dough is soft and fluffy
inside, with a slight chewiness and packed
with flavour.
RECIPE – (sufficient for 3 moulds Method
of ½ kg each) • This recipe will take approximately 24 hours from start to finish
but the extra time fermenting will ensure a quality product to be
For the pre-ferment: poolish enjoyed over the Christmas period.
(see previous issue recipe beans • Start the poolish early in the morning by mixing the yeast with the
on toast) flour and water in a bowl. Cover with nylon or a damp cloth and let
• 2 teaspoons dried yeast rise for at least six hours in a warm place.
• 60 ml warm water • Combine the butter, eggs, sugar, salt, lemon zest and vanilla
extract in a bowl and whisk with an electric mixer until well mixed.
• 60 g flour (2 ceros)
Add the poolish and mix again.
• Change to the dough hook and gradually add the flour and beat
• 100 g butter at room until the dough begins to leave the side of the bowl and pull
temperature together. If the dough is too runny, add the extra 50 g of flour, but
• 4 eggs (+1 for brushing the top bear in mind that the finished dough should be slightly sticky.
of dough before cooking) Continue beating for five minutes until the dough becomes smooth
and elastic. If you do not have an electric mixer this recipe can be
• 150 g sugar mixed perfectly by hand beating.
• 1 teaspoon salt • Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise for four or five hours
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest until almost double in size. Add the blueberries, chocolate pieces
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and half of the almonds and fold into mixture until well
distributed.
• 540 g flour (+ 50 g extra should
• Grease three paper sweet bread moulds and add the finished
it be needed)
mixture. It should come half way up the mould. Paint with beaten
• 200 g dried blueberries egg, sprinkle with almonds and leave in the fridge overnight until
• 100 g sliced or roughly the mixture has almost risen to the rim. If necessary, before
chopped almonds cooking leave out of the fridge at room temperature to finish rising.
• 100 g roughly chopped • Cook for ten minutes in a hot oven at 200 degrees Celsius and
chocolate (70% cocoa) then turn down heat to 180 C for around 30 minutes. It is ready
when a metal skewer comes out clean after piercing.
• 30% icing sugar
• Dust with icing sugar and enjoy!
Happy Christmas!
For any queries or questions, please contact me via e-mail at sbpberins@gmail.com.
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 19The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Michael Chu
GROWING UP CHINESE IN URUGUAY
Arriving in late summer, I remember our first days in One important reason, I think, was that we arrived at
Montevideo as full of sunshine and open air. Coming the tail-end of the golden age of Uruguay. In the
from Hong Kong, where food supply was still basic early years of the 20th century, led by a remarkable
and milk was stretched with water, my siblings and I and visionary president, José Battle y Ordoñez,
couldn’t believe how good everything tasted. Every Uruguay became the first welfare nation in the world,
morning we would rush to the breakfast table, help with many of the characteristics that we associate
ourselves to slices of freshly-baked, sparkling-white today with Scandinavia. Battle y Ordoñez expressly
bread on which we laid thick slabs of butter as if it defined the role of the state as safeguarding the
were cheese and washed everything down with welfare of the people. By 1915, ahead of the United
huge cups of café con leche. States, Uruguay had established an
Naturally, school was a priority, but eight-hour workday, a minimum wage
our Spanish was fairly non-existent. for agricultural workers, one day of
My sister Anna and my aunt Theresa rest a week, workmen’s compensation
(close in age), who had learned some in the event of job injury and retire-
English in Hong Kong, were admitted ment pensions. Education was made
into The British School and the compulsory, free, and secular. There
younger children into the Deutsche was a free health system, with the
Schule. My mother informed the government actively seeking to enrol
German headmaster with trepidation, the less affluent. Divorce was legalized
“I’m afraid my children speak no in 1907 and in 1913, women could
Spanish.” “My dear lady,” he replied. demand it on their own. The 1917
“Why should that be a problem? What constitution enshrined the separation
is a school for if not to teach?” The of church and state and established
school had two shifts, one in the proportional representation and secret
morning and another in the afternoon, balloting. Women suffrage became
where the same lessons were taught to a different law in 1932, 12 years before France and 39 years
set of students. With great insight, the headmaster ahead of Switzerland.
had us attending both shifts. Behind all this was the wealth generated by a country
When you acquire a language in your childhood, it that was world-class in the production of items in
becomes so natural that it’s difficult to remember high demand around the globe which at that time
that you actually had to learn it. I have no memory of included wool and beef, during a period of great
becoming fluent in Spanish but I do recall that when freedom of trade. With sheep and cattle ranching
we moved into our first home in Montevideo, a boy requiring few hands and a population that was only
who lived a block away and was three or four years slowly inching towards three million, in a country five
older would drop by after school and we would walk times the size of the Netherlands and 80% larger
around the neighbourhood. We couldn’t really talk to than South Korea, in 1930 the GDP per capita of
each other, so I would point to an object and he Uruguay ($4,301) was ahead of the average GDP
would say its name in Spanish, and I would repeat it, per capita ($4,297) of the twelve leading European
and we would do this through all our walk. I thought economies. Then the Great Depression, with its
this was great fun and he must have too, as he did cycles of retaliatory protectionism, led to a precipi-
this daily until one day we were chatting. tous shrinking of global trade. Like other nations,
The kindness of my friend came naturally, without a Uruguay was deeply impacted. But two factors
trace of self-consciousness, and his openness and allowed Uruguay to recover and to keep its pros-
warmth were characteristic of the general reception perity going into the 1950s. The first was World War
my family got in Uruguay. Looking back, and espe- II (and later the Korean War), which once again
cially today when immigrants spark such a mixed demanded wool and beef. The second was a
response in the United States, I’ve wondered what national policy of import substitution that gave rise to
made possible our easy acceptance by the an industrial sector.
Uruguayans. To be continued...
Original article in Revista: https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/book/growing-chines-uruguay
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 20The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
from The Guardian
SPEEDY CROSSWORD TIME! www.theguardian.com
Print this page and start playing!
Solution in the next Contact issue.
November solution:
Across Down
1 Violent attack (7) 1 Part of a church, alongside the nave (5)
8 Hoping for perfection? (7) 2 Bar or rod acting as a brace (5)
9 Feudal bondage (7) 3 Comprehension (13)
10 Source of warmth on 5 November? (7) 4 Roll over and over (6)
11 Participate (5) 5 All day and all night (5,3,5)
13 Inducement (informal) (9) 6 Immobilise (6)
15 Home for parentless children (9) 7 Make attractive (6)
18 Pals (5) 12 Close (4)
21 Bird of the crow family (7) 14 Scholastic test (abbr) (4)
22 Feeling — sentiment (7) 15 Goal (6)
23 Military rank (7) 16 Predicament (6)
24 Pristine (4,3) 17 Also (2,4)
19 Marriage (5)
20 Tough cord connecting muscle to bone (5)
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 21The British Society in Uruguay Contact Newsletter December 2020
by Scott Adams
DILBERT https://dilbert.com/
LAMB CHOPS
Cats Like Toes
Cats like toes Cats like toes Cats like toes That cats like toes
Cats like toes Cats like toes Cats like toes Cats like toes
Rub their nose Cat’s eyes close Dribble flows
Against those toes Forget their woes And purring shows
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The paper industry has survived for thousands of years – here’s how it’s faring in the pandemic era.
Made on Earth: Road to Recovery explores how the trades in eight everyday products are adapting to
the coronavirus pandemic – from bicycles to whisky, spices to semiconductors – and how resilience
and innovation are redefining the way the world trades.
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watch the video
www.britsoc.org.uy Page 22You can also read
