A woman of initiative who has always been interested in the Arts and in fashion, at the age of 19, in 1983, she started publishing Elegance magazine while organizing the Elegance Cover Contest. Over the years Caroline has been editor of several other magazines and produced radio and TV programmes. Lately she developed content from her research on dress history for the 13-episode series Moda - L-istorja. She was also appointed Costume curator of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti's exhibition - Music in Malta: From Pre-History to Vinyl.
Caroline has an Honours degree in Anthropology, a Masters in Art and Art History, her specialization being 19th century dress history and photography. She is working on her publication on dress history in 19th century Malta and researching post war dress history with a focus on Princess Elizabeth while living in Malta. As you can see, the pandemic has not stopped her from further achievements. There's no stopping her.
“Luckily, I have been involved in cultural media for decades and it was second nature to me to co-ordinate filming for short features. Editors, journalists and film producers were very supportive and gave us space on their medium to disseminate information on our culture and heritage to the public for free. Tourism, art and culture were badly affected by the pandemic and it felt that there was a collective consciousness to help each other during a very precarious time. We are still suffering from lack of tourists and Mdina is hauntingly still and quiet. However, we are very thankful that we continue to enjoy the support of our Friends of Palazzo Falson, patrons of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti and local individuals who appreciate our national heritage.
At home, life changed too and the living area was transformed into a multi-purpose space, to work, eat and watch tv. I felt blessed to have my younger daughter with me at home, setting up our own office areas to carry on with our work as if it was business as usual. It was a privilege to spend so much time together and share warm meals on a regular basis but needless to say there were times when we stepped on each other’s toes. We also enjoyed treats such as scented candles that my partner had sent us both and flowers my daughter received from close friends.
As weeks folded into months we adjusted and coped very well. We were fortunate enough to adopt two adorable kittens, Wigi and Gigi, during lockdown. In no time they became inseparable from us and are now part of our family circle. My daughter and I had some time out at different intervals and enjoyed some leisure time. She regimentally did her daily workout, turning our garage space into a gym while I took long walks along the seafront in company of podcasts. Weekend perks included country walks with my cousin, exercising our tongues more than any other muscle. And the highlight of the week was Sunday, with much encouragement from my partner to exercise at Neptune’s pool once it was open again and then indulge in a mythical freshly baked brioche.
The most difficult task to manage was trying to keep my rebellious mum indoors. She was very diligent in keeping to the rules of hygiene and have least contact with people but totally against staying at home all the time. She is quite a character and was always very independent. She cooked traditionaL dishes for us and would catch a cab to bring the food over. She is really amazing and has always been the backbone of the family. We kept her entertained as best we could and our weekly family lunch appointment was a must. We also fitted in the odd stroll every now and again that always ended with a generous ice-cream.
Considering the strange circumstances in which we have been living, I feel that we have managed really well and realise more and more how precious family and friends are in our lives. Their support helps us survive anything.
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