Author: Nancy Heslin

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Father Hugh Bearn

If you ask Hugh Bearn whether an expat congregation is any different than a typical village parish, his response is straightforward. “I have been a priest for 35 years and it seems to me that people are the same the world over, driven by the same impulses and affected by the same concerns – the only difference is the wrapping.”

The Bearn family – Father Hugh with his wife Alison, youngest son Freddie, and, of course, their West Highland Terrier Cameron III – arrived in Monaco in April 2023. St. Paul’s Anglican Church Monte Carlo may seem like a world away from his former gig at St. Anne’s Tottington in Lancashire, UK, where he served “27 glorious years of dedication and energy” according to a tribute upon his departure, but Father Hugh seems to have adjusted to the sunny lifestyle here just fine. “With the kindness of others we have settled in very well thank you.”

Father Hugh spent 24 years as a volunteer hospice chaplain, which seems the antitheses of serving the wealthy and privileged Monaco community where it is sometimes difficult for people to remain grounded. From where he stands, there is no secret to making “a habit out of Joy” in this one life we each have. “The response that I would give as a priest is to quote Jesus’ two great commandments to love God and our neighbour as ourselves. There are so many ways in which to do that – I think that I would run out of words. St. Therese of Lisieux said, “That shall be my life, to scatter flowers, to miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

The middle child of four siblings grew up in Oxford, where the family home was over the road from a monastery and from a young age sensed a calling to the priesthood. His vocation has taken him on a faithful journey beyond a hospice chaplain, to Army chaplain, Chaplain to the late Queen – and now King – and Chaplain at St. Paul’s Monte Carlo.

“I have had the privilege of serving the Church over many years and I have been blessed in meeting and sharing in the lives of so many people. I think that I might write a book with the title Tales from the Vestry. Two very early ones involved ministering to a lady in Christie Hospital in Manchester and another with the most-lovely family in Heaton in Bolton whose son committed suicide and whom I still hold very close to my heart. Truthfully, there are too many people that come to mind whom I have tried to serve and have, without realising it, have formed and molded my priesthood and to whom I owe an enormous debt.”

And then there are the four-legged creatures. “We have always had dogs in our family. Alison and I have had three West Highland Terriers in 34 years of marriage all with the same name – Cameron. Dogs are very intuitive as we say in Lancashire, very knowing. As for sensing our faith or helping to teach us about God and love, well that remains, I think, a divine mystery.”

In April, Father Hugh coordinated “Operation Pews & Paws,” donating some 60 x 8-metre church pew cushions to the SPA (Société Protectrice des Animaux) Monaco. “A couple from St. Paul’s kindly funded the replacement of all of the old furnishings in Church. I dislike waste and our throw away culture in the West, and was very happy to help. By the way, I have an additional cushion if anyone would like to collect it.”

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE IN FRENCH: Karine Manglou from SPA Monaco talks about “Operation Pews & Paws.” (By the way, the new SPA Monaco refuge in Peille was inaugurated by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene on September 18.)

At St. Paul’s Monte Carlo at 22 avenue de Grande-Bretagne, “The congregation is multinational, with a varied age, and the Sunday School continues to grow,” says Father Hugh. Regular Church of England services take place every Sunday, and during the week, with special events and concerts peppered into the calendar, like the upcoming Exeter College Oxford Alumni Choir on October 6 at 10:30am and 3pm pm and the Danish Boys Choir – Les Petits Chanteurs de Frederiskborg – on October 12 at 2pm, both of which are free entry. Then there’s the not-to-be missed Christmas celebrations in English, the nativity play, as well as the traditional Christmas Eve (7:30pm) and Christmas Day at 8.00 am and 1030 am services. (See info and dates below.)

Of course, the big news out of St. Paul’s Monte Carlo is its centenary in 2025 and along with the support of the dedicated Church Council, plans are being formulated.

The Chaplain in Monaco, who once described himself as “short of height but high of profile”, has an open vicarage door policy: he is ever available for a pot of tea and a chat. But plan to stay a while, for whatever you wish to discuss with the Father Hugh, a delightful detour of dialogue will ensue. And for the record, I’d be the first to buy his book.

Article first published September 24, 2024.

St. Paul’s Monte Carlo Church Calendar

Sunday September 22, 10:30am:
Thanksgiving service and dedication of a stone memorial for 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill.

Monday Sept. 30, 6pm:
Centenary launch at Metropole Hotel.

Sunday October. 6, 10:30am & 3pm:
Exeter College Oxford Alumni choir singing. Evensong at 3pm.

Saturday Oct. 12, 2pm:
Danish Boys Choir – Les Petits Chanteurs de Frederiskborg – free entry.

Sunday Oct. 13, 10:30am:
Lord Chartres Confirming Bishop.

Sunday Oct. 20:
Harvest Festival to support St. Famille in Nice.

Friday Oct. 25, 7:30pm:
Trafalgar Night social evening at the Vicarage. 

Friday November 7:30pm:
In the English Library Padre David Coulter former Chaplain General of the British army talk on the faith of Earl Haig.

Remembrance Sunday Nov. 11:, 10:30am:
Remembrance Service followed by service at Churchill bust on avenue de Grande Bretagne, Evensong 6.00pm.

Saturday December 7:
Handel’s Messiah full orchestra and choir.

Sunday Dec. 15:  
Nine Lessons and Carols.

Tuesday Dec. 24, 7:30pm:
Christmas Eve service.

Wednesday Dec. 25, 10:30am:
Christmas Day services.

St.

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Rokethon Monaco

“In Mauritius, people are kind, maybe too much so, and naïve,” Sylvia Sermenghi says on her native island nation in the Indian Ocean. “So I learned to be tough.”

Sylvia moved to Monaco in 1980 and admits that it was “not easy to make your mark”. In the reign of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, “Monaco was a different scene but maybe the whole world was different then.”

At age 20, Sylvia worked at the hotel Loews Monte Carlo (the Fairmont Monte Carlo today). After the birth of her son, she decided to be a stay-at-home mom until he started school and it was during that period she worked in fashion, first as a model in Paris, and after on the business side. She set up her own company, Gloria Prod and organised event launches in Monaco – the Dresdner Bank inauguration with Prince Albert and the opening of Zelo’s nightclub (now Twiga) – and in France, like the fundraising Par Coeur Gala hosted by French NBA basketball player, Tony Parker.

In 2012, Sylvia created her fashion label, Legends Monaco. “Two years later we were in the Haute Couture Week calendar, putting on fashion shows twice a year in Paris alongside Dior, and Chanel.” Today the brand offers tailor-made clothes to a private clientele.

Yet for as long as she can remember, animals have played the biggest role in her life. One reason, she says, is because growing up on an island you are “very close to nature and its creatures”. As Sylvia describes, “I was a wild child, climbing trees to pick fruit and bringing home abandoned dogs on the way home from school. We had a farm behind our house with all kinds of animals.”

Another big factor though was her father. “His passion for animals became mine when he died at a very young age.” Over the years, Sylvia has channelled this passion into benevolence. “As an adult, my first dog was an abandoned Dachshund I brought back from Corsica. During the ferry crossing back to Nice, I was so worried he would be frightened that I slept – if you can call it that! – with him in the hold all night.”

For Sylvia, a dog, or a cat, is our friend, our guardian and also our children. “They can’t speak our language, but they know very well to speak to our heart. I have always thought that animals bring out the best in us, the part of our original deep nature which is made up of the good and not so good. For me, it is very simple: I can talk with them, and I can feel instantly when they have a problem. This, I think, is love.”

Sylvia, who volunteers with the not-for-profit Jeune J’Écoute Monaco to help with PR, says the Monaco community love their dogs and that the mentality has become more open towards adopting abandoned dogs.

She created Rokethon Monaco., an association calling for responsible animal ownership and to raise awareness about dog abandonment. Rokethon – the name stems from the Creole word roqué, rock, as the Patron Saint of the dogs is St Roch – is a walk/run that will take place for dogs and their humans on October 5th, 10am, at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille.

Registration (by donation) is at the entry and only one dog per person can sign up. Fifty percent of registrant donations will go to the Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA) in Monaco and the other half to associations supporting animal causes.

“When I adopted my three dogs, Roquette, Sunshine and Tough, from Ukraine last year they came from bombs of the war and minus 40 degrees in winter to join my six adopted dogs, my horses and my goats. I decided I could do better, for all families, young and old, with their doggies on a leash. They can come run or walk but let’s all get together for the animal cause – adopt don’t shop!”

There will also be a “Village Rokethon” with entertainment for young and less young with pets, animal art, dog communicators, agility therapists, and a Brigitte Bardot fashion show with abandoned dogs to adopt.

“In France, the Assembly National reports 12 domestic animals are abandoned every hour. In my opinion, and what should be everyone’s opinion, this is way too much and this is why I’m hoping many people will come out to support this cause and, why not, adopt one of our little hearts looking for home and family.”

For more information about Rokethon, see the website or email Sylvia Sermenghi .

Article first published September 13, 2024. Feature photos: Lacey Da Costa.

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International Book Fair Monaco

Salon du livre de Monaco co-founders Raphaël Abenhaim and Yvette Cellario.

This year’s Monaco International Book Fair at the Grimaldi Forum brings together 140 authors from 12 countries across the globe. The 13th edition – which is free to the public – kicked off Saturday September 7 with opera, and acknowledgements from Yvette Cellario, a Monegasque who co-founded the event with businessman Raphaël Abenhaim.

The pair first launched the online bookshop, Librairie numérique de Monaco, back in 2011. Following its success, they decided to expand their literary activities and went on to create the Salon du livre de Monaco in 2012.

The objective was to promote all facets of literature. Yvette, who worked for twenty years in the Monaco Town Hall events department, published her first novel “Et Moi, Émois” in 2004. This was followed by an autobiography and several other titles.

Raphaël Abenhaim and the Librairie numérique de Monaco team are on hand this weekend to speak with book lovers about what the online bookshop has to offer.

Volunteer Heidi De Love gives the lowdown on the 10% discount promo on all books throughout September. WATCH VIDEO BELOW: ENGLISH

For the first time in Monaco, members of the Rencontres des Auteurs Francophones are taking part in the book weekend. Founded in 2020 by author Sandrine Mehrez Kukurudz, the New York-based platform is the world’s first French-language literary network set up to promote French-language culture. WATCH VIDEO ABOVE IN ENGLISH: SANDRINE AND RON KUKURUDZ.

One of the Rencontres entourage includes LA-based Dana Ziyashiva. WATCH VIDEO IN ENGLISH.

Another first-time participant is Swiss-based writer Laurence Berger, with a fictional thriller linked to Monaco published in both French and English. WATCH VIDEO BELOW IN ENGLISH WITH LAURENCE BERGER AND LAURENCE GENEVET.

Local authors include Laurence Genevet (the former managing director of Epi Communication), Mireille Grazi and Lucien Nasarre.

The Monaco International Book Fair runs from 10am to 6pm Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8.

Writers from the Rencontres des Auteurs Francophones.
French author Lucien Nasarre.
Lawyer by day, writer the rest of the time, Laurence Berger.
Heidi De Love volunteering with the fantastic Librairie numérique de Monaco.
Well-known personality Laurence Genevet with her first book.
Dana Ziyashiva from LA.
The 13th edition of the Monaco International Book Fair.

Article first published September 7, 2024. All photos and videos copyright Good News Monaco.

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Carina Bruwer

Carina Bruwer admits she has always been a dreamer and will break the mould whenever she has the chance. In her world, nothing is impossible. “Coming from a musical family, I wasn’t heavily involved in sports growing up because perfecting a musical instrument requires a huge commitment and investment, and I sacrificed a lot for it.”

And yet Carina’s dream was to swim across the bay she often visited as a kid in her native South Africa. It was considered impossible –  35 km of rough, shark infested waters. It wasn’t until she finished school that she began swimming seriously and decided to pursue this “crazy” childhood vision. “I was self-trained and spent almost five years building up my mileage and courage to attempt the crossing. My first attempt nearly ended in disaster due to hypothermia, but I eventually succeeded.”

At 44, Carina has been swimming almost every day for nearly 25 years, and estimates she’s covered close to 40,000 km of open water in her lifetime. “I continue to race competitively and take on extreme solo challenges to support various charities.”

As she explains it, “I love the meditative nature of distance swimming; it feels like I enter a different mental wavelength a few kilometres into a long swim. There’s an incredible sense of freedom – almost like flying.” It doesn’t hurt that she is gifted with a naturally efficient swim stroke, which is ideal for endurance distances, like the 21km “Triple Country” France–Monaco–Italy swim and crossing the English Channel.

According to the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, of the 2,549 people to date have swum 33km to cross the Channel, a third are women. The first was Gertrude Ederle on August 6, 1926, which inspired the 2024 Disney film, The Young Woman and the Sea.

Carina trained by swimming between 6 to 8 km daily. “It’s not natural to swim for hours on end. The body instinctively wants to get out of the water after a relatively short time, especially when it’s cold. You must be over-prepared to have enough strength to face the mental challenges that are an intrinsic part of endurance swimming. It requires incredible dedication, similar to mastering a musical instrument.”

On August 1, 2005 she swam from England to France in 15°C water temps in a time of 12h03. As the Capetonian describes, there are various mental techniques to help endure the discomfort: detaching from it, negotiating with the voice of fear that tells you to stop and turn back, reframing the challenge into smaller, more manageable chunks, and reminding yourself that you can always do “just one more thing” – one more stroke, another 100 meters, another feed, another kilometre. “If you repeat that process a few times, you might just find yourself on the other side.”

Nutrition also plays a part in endurance swimming. Staying hydrated and consuming the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and electrolytes is critical to prevent fatigue and maintain strength. “Your support team is your eyes and ears because, as a swimmer, you’re very isolated. When the going gets tough – which it inevitably does – your team often keeps you motivated and focused.”

For Carina, it’s often inspiration pushes her beyond her boundaries. “When you’re swimming for a purpose greater than yourself, a cause, it gives you that extra strength to keep going, even when every part of you wants to quit.”

When she started a family, the new mom stuck to swimming in the safety of a pool. “I felt it was selfish to dedicate so much time and take risks in such an extreme sport when I had a young child at home.” But the pull of the ocean was strong, and Carina started missing her time in the water. “I became more aware of how fortunate I was to have my gifts, skills, and a healthy family while recognizing the immense need and suffering around us.

“I decided to return to open water swimming, but only if I could use my passion and abilities to make a positive impact – even if it meant changing just one person’s life. That’s when I started Swim For Hope in 2012, shortly after my second daughter was born. The initiative began in support of a child cancer foundation, and since then, I’ve completed numerous swims for various charities, including Muzukidz, which provides intensive violin tuition to disadvantaged children, and Tribuo, which supported musicians and performers who lost their income during the Covid pandemic.”

The mom of three is now planning her most ambitious Swim For Hope to date. The details are still under wraps, but the swim is scheduled for next August or September and “will challenge me physically and mentally in ways I’ve never experienced before.” The next step is securing sponsorship, but Carina is excited about the far-reaching impact the challenge could have.

Endurance swimmer Carina Bruwer and Swimrun Monaco founder Matteo Testa with Princess Charlene at Water Safety Day in Monaco in 2023. Photo: Matteo Testa.

Carina met fellow South African Princess Charlene in 2023 at a Water Safety Day in Monaco organised by her Foundation. It was swim instructor Matteo Testa, founder of Swimrun Monaco and ActivExplorer, who made the introduction. Matteo was Carina’s boat support for her 2018 Italy to Monaco swim. “I am very impressed by Princess Charlene’s efforts and would love to become more involved. Swimming promotes physical health, builds confidence, and teaches children how to stay safe in and around water, which is crucial, especially in areas with easy access to bodies of water.”

With Matteo, Carina is co-hosting a “Beyond Boundaries: Empowering Open Water Swim Retreat” from September 13-16 in Noli, Italy, a 75-minute drive from Monaco.

The 4-day retreat is for anyone who want to experience the magic of open water swimming. “Participants can expect a lot of swimming – whether it’s 500m or 10km – and an opportunity to learn new skills, all while challenging themselves to go beyond their self-imposed limitations.”

In addition to open water swims and basic stroke analysis, the retreat will include inspirational workshops and one-on-one sessions focused on breaking down life barriers, plus gourmet meals, nature hikes, and down time in a beautiful setting. (See here for more info and rates, which include companion and a 1-day options.)

Carina, who is also an acclaimed musician, says swimming in the ocean is empowering and teaches us many valuable lessons. “It forces us to confront our fears and develop resilience. It teaches us to be patient and persistent, to trust our instincts, and to respect the natural world around us.

“It reminds us to accept the ebb and flow of life – sometimes we feel like we’re moving backward, sometimes we’re propelled forward, and other times we seem to be simply treading water. But as long as we keep moving, we make progress, and over time, we make a difference.”

Article first published September 3, 2024. Feature image of Carina Brewer by Carel Kuschke.

Open Water Me vs. Boat With Motor
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Fenella Holt

In 2008, Fenella Holt and her husband Ed, a well-known yacht photographer, moved to Antibes from Mallorca. “Ed’s job meant we needed to be where the boats were,” explains Fenella. “At that time there was an exodus from Mallorca due to increased berthing fees and my kids had just finished school, so it was a good time to make a move. The boats were moving here, so we did too.”

Fenella eventually started working as a sales assistant at Heidi’s English Bookshop in the old town when, three years later, owner Heidi Lee made the decision to close down after 25 years. “I was therefore made redundant,” explains Fenella. “I realised that there was an opportunity to fill the gap left behind, and I’d learnt enough during my time there to risk it. I reckoned that if I could find the right location, I could make a successful business, and that’s what happened!”

She took on the locale of the defunct Catholic bookshop, La Procure, at 13 rue Georges Clemenceau and it could not have been better placed. “Everyone goes up and down this street, no matter where they are headed.”

And so, on Valentine’s Day 2015, Fenella officially opened the new Antibes Books with Merde! author Stephen Clarke on hand for a book signing. At time Fenella commented, “I can’t imagine ever wanting to go back to London.”

Of course, there have been unexpected ups and unexpected downs over the years. “The low point of the decade was definitely Brexit; it was much worse than Covid. Covid was, in a weird way, a joy! To begin with, I had to close, like everyone else. Then, one evening a couple of weeks into lockdown, I read that stationery shops were allowed to open, so the next day, I got my accountant to change my business licence to include papeterie, I bought some pencil sharpeners, sellotape and Tipp-Ex online and in no time we were open again.

“The shop then became a hub for those on their short daily walks, with many popping in for a chat, a quick (illegal) coffee or sometimes a cry. I think we provided a haven for many lonely people during that time. I’m really glad about that. As for Brexit, don’t get me started. My blood pressure couldn’t take it.”

Fenella says she has hosted some wonderful authors for events at Antibes Books. “We laughed ourselves silly with Celia Imrie – twice. Stephen Clark was a hoot, and the late, lovely, (normally grumpy) Henning Mankell gave me the biggest bouquet of roses you ever saw on opening day.”

There have been visits and impromptu signings with Rick Stein (pictured), Rod Stewart, Hugh Grant, Sharon Stone –and Fenella’s favourite regular – Pete Townshend.

And now, most unfortunately, Fenella is suffering from a chronic health disorder and the time has come to sell the beloved shop. “I want Antibes Books to continue to thrive. I won’t divulge stuff about the business itself here, anyone interested can contact me directly. Suffice to say that it’s very healthy, I am earning an excellent living and that I am willing to train a new owner in every aspect of the business, if needed.

“Also we are just about to launch our new home delivery service. We trialled this during Covid and it was a hit, as I expect it will be again. Thanks to this new legislation, we can be truly competitive when compared to the big online stores.”

Fenella assures that the family, which includes Athos (pictured), her tiny Jack Russell puppy who grew and grew into a 28kg Bernese Mountain Dog – “He was meant to fit in my bicycle basket!” – will definitely stay in the country.

“France is our permanent home, but away from the Med and hopefully away from the mosquitos! I love to swim in lakes and rivers, as does Athos with me, so once I have time, we are going to take off in our camper van, tour the country and find our idyll.”

Fenella Holt is happy to speak with potential bookshop owners and can be reached on 04 93 61 96 47 or by email.

Article first published on August 31, 2024.

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Kate Powers

Our friend Kate Powers died on August 30, 2021.

Outside of my immediate family, few deaths have impacted me like the news about Kate on Monday. It was not unexpected yet, still, my knees buckled and time seemed to stop, as if the world was trying to readjust to losing one of its biggest beating hearts.

As expats, few people can share your grief when a person in your native country dies. Friends here can empathise with loss, but it is rare they knew the person or can share stories to help you keep their memory alive. With Kate, we are all mourning and instead of being sad alone, we can be sad together.

Kate made each of us in the community feel like we mattered in this world. We felt special because the core of her being was special, this was her superpower. There is a shared sentiment in the role Kate played: “Kate was the first person I met in Monaco.” “Kate treated everyone the same way, no matter who we are.” “Kate had known my kids since they were babies and always asked how they were doing.” “Une bonne personne, toujours au service et un petit mot pour ses clients.” “Kate introduced me to other people when I didn’t know anyone.”

For me, I had lived in the region for many years before I met “the” Kate Powers. I had heard so much about this American who owned a Tex-Mex restaurant in the port and was not only a childhood friend of the Prince but her mom was close to Grace Kelly. Slightly intimidating? What I remember in meeting her for the first time, and this has always stuck with me, is that Kate was the opposite of what I expected from the jet-set bling-bling crowd of Monaco – instead of resting on her laurels, she was a down to earth, open and a warm human being who instinctively knew when to hug at the right time. Like all of us, she had her insecurities although she was unaware of her beauty. “How can I help?” the tireless champion of kindness would always offer.

Of course pre-restaurant days, there was Kate’s made-for-the-movies life, one that she had hoped to share in writing or a series of video chats. Sitting with her and Annette Anderson one day talking about how to get all Kate’s stories out there, I remember my mouth dropping when she gave me a teaser: “Roman Polanski had called to ask me on a date and my mom grabbed the phone and told him to ‘F-off’ before hanging up. We were living in Switzerland at the time and I snuck out to the party where he was with Jack Nicholson. They were drinking too much so I left but as it was snowing outside and someone had left their keys in a car, I decided to drive home. I hit a snow bank so I had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.”

*******

On Monday night, as the tears rolled down my cheeks and dampened my pillows as I tried to fall asleep, I realized that while I wish Kate had stuck around much, much longer than her 68 years, she accomplished in life what we all hope for when we leave this earth: she made a difference. She did not wait until her diagnosis to live the life she wanted. She did not have to learn about spiritual awareness or quickly check off a Bucket List. No, Kate Powers had been evolving every day of her life, and gently nudging us along her path of change for the better.

She did not need to change. The Monegasque could have easily sat back over the years and let Stars’n’Bars, the restaurant she co-founded with Didier Rubiolo nearly 30 years ago, ride on the coattails of the Prince Albert connection. Instead, she rolled up her sleeves to transform the family-friendly eatery as a leading example of what she called “ecolution” in the Principality. It was the first restaurant to have its own urban vegetable garden, and to stop the use of plastic straws and non-biodegradable throwaway coffee cups.

When Covid hit last year, Kate told me, “Lockdown helped us wake up to necessary ecological changes that were more important than economical ones. We need to keep taking steps forward and raise awareness about wellness, whether its ours or the planet’s.” Stars’n’Bars replaced serving industrial sodas (Coca-Cola and Sprite) with only Fizz Bio organic colas made in Bordeaux, which some customers did not appreciate and would even walk out. “I try to explain that we are focusing on sourcing locally. When I tell people not to expect the taste of Coke with our organic soda, at first they are unsure but now they love it.”

That was the Kate effect. She had her way of doing things but she opened the floor for dialogue to educate; and she listened to learn.

*******

The first time I spoke to Kate after learning she had cancer, about six months ago, she was, typically, positive. Much of my connection with Kate was over our shared appreciation of nature and often I would send her a message describing some random observation, a text that I could never send to anyone else (including my husband) because they would think I was crazy. She got it.

Here is what I mean. The day after I learned of her illness, I went for a long swim along Cap Roquebrune, specifically with the intent of putting healing energy into the sea for her. This is my form of meditation. I focused on Kate for the entire 5 kilometres and when I returned to shore, I discovered my safety buoy was no longer attached. That had never happened in my seven years of open water swimming. From my apartment, I could see the orange buoy out there floating on the open sea. I texted Kate to tell her the story and said “Whenever you come across anything orange, know that the universe is your safety buoy.”

Kate replied: “I was biking earlier, talking to the trees and asking for their assistance. I looked up to see orange. Orange is Didier’s favourite colour and he is wearing an orange shirt now! The universe is definitely on my side.”

Half a year later, out on my run yesterday morning, the sunrise across the sea, with the clouds, captivated me and I thought “I’ll share that with Kate.” I stopped in my tracks for a moment before telling myself, I can still share these moments with her, just not in the physical world.

I will honour Kate by trying to follow some of her examples – to continue to raise awareness about our planet’s health, to be kinder and more helpful to each other and, as Kate was no fan of the news and its negativity, share good and positive stories with others. Really, to be the best version of myself possible.

Our friend Kate Powers came into this world with wings; she did not have to earn them, only spread them to get back home. And, knowing Kate like we all do, she will certainly raise the bar for all the other angels.

Article first published August 30, 2021.

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Entreparents: the Monaco parents’ app is a must for the rentrée

The first ten days of motherhood for Johanna Damar Flores were not what she imagined. “While breastfeeding my 10-day-old son, I discovered a huge ball on his neck. I was alone and at home. At first, I was quite anxious. I didn’mut know what it was or who to contact.”

Thanks to Johanna’s network in Monaco, her son was quickly diagnosed and, after a year of reeducation, his neck completely healed. “During this unexpected experience, I realised that when we become parents – and not only for the first time – we all feel isolated and uninformed.”

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Anna Campbell and Clémence Perrin give the scoop on Entreparents and their Global Day of Parents huge all-day party at Larvotto.

With her mum friends Emilie Sabatié and Swiss-born Clémence Perrin, Johanna put out an online survey and the answers showed that new parents can struggle to find the information they need from one central source. “We were never meant to raise children alone,” says Emilie, who, like Johanna, was born in France and grew up in Monaco. “It takes a village, and when you don’t have the psychological and physical support of others life is more challenging.”

This was the start of the Entreparents network and their mission “to help at least one family,” says Johanna.

Entreparents cofounders Emilie Sabatié, Johanna Damar Anna Campbell and Clémence Perrin.

Brit Anna Campbell, who has lived in Monaco for 12 years, joined the French-speaking trio and Entreparents became an official Monaco association in May 2021. Their goal? To put parenthood back into the heart of the community. They have almost 2,000 authentic followers on Instagram.

“The whole journey is a new challenge, something you haven’t experienced before and is unique for everyone,” says Clémence. “You realise at each stage that things in your life will change – your body, your moods, thoughts, relationships – but you don’t know to what extent until you’re living it. And the not knowing is stressful, so the care and support of those who do know is invaluable.”

Emilie adds, “We really believe that Monaco is an exceptional environment and offers many great services to parents. With Entreparents, we always want to value the existing services – like the Espaces Parents at the mairie managed by Maryline Soldano and the ateliers of the CHPG Maternity – and connect parents to them.”

The association is not only for parents and future parents in Monaco and the surrounding area, but also for family members, childcare providers, professionals and institutions within the family-child environment. And it’s not just for mothers either. “Our aim to include dads and their role in raising a baby,” shares Johanna. “It’s same for them when it comes to isolation and lack of information, and having the opportunity to meet people at the same life stage.

Anna, a mum of three who has lived in Monaco for twelve years has limited French. “There are added difficulties if you’re an expat, don’t speak French and you’re potentially living in a new place without knowing many people or where to get the information you need, like finding a doctor or baby formula. When you don’t have family nearby you really rely on the community and support of others in your situation or others who can offer guidance, they become your family, your tribe, your village.”

Entreparents is the needle threading together Monaco’s community and services. Johanna describes, “In collaboration with Radio Monaco, we have launched their first on-air series dedicated to parenting called Come, Let’s Chat. Once a month on the Feel Good Morning Show with Giulia Testaverde, you will find our experts and parents of our network chatting about all things parenthood. We also have an agreement with the CHPG Maternity Department to be part of their multi-disciplinary team working together to develop the available services.”

It was Anna who had the idea of a free and easy-to-use app, as she knew someone who started a similar concept in the UK. “Facebook groups are very useful but can be difficult to find the information you’re looking for scrolling through previous questions and answers,” Anna explains. “The app has instant chat and dedicated group chats to help find information more easily. Our aim is to help make the pathway into parenthood more supported and serene.”

Anna Campbell, Johanna Damar and Clémence Perrin at the Maison des Associations.

The Entreparents app in English and French was launched in fall 2023 and has more than 880 users, mostly French-speaking parents in Monaco. Johanna, Anna, Clémence and Emilie are hoping more English-speaking mums and dads will download it.

The app is a super resourceful tool with a 24/7 chat feature. Users’ questions range from helping babies sleep and toddler behaviour to doctor contact information and where to buy certain products. The dedicated chat groups deal with topics including post-partum, childcare, nutrition and infertility. The chat is mediated by Agnès Guénin, a psychomotor therapist specialising in perinatal care and parenting support.

There’s also an information feature to guide new and future parents each step of the way with helpful general information and hospital appointment reminders, from pre-pregnancy through  the child’s first three years.

The app’s calendar informs parents of local events for families to enjoy together. “Our most recent event was Let’s Meet Infertility: an invisible pain,” says Anna. “It was a big gathering of local experts with mums sharing their infertility journey. It helped to show the network that is available to anyone struggling and to create a conversation and support in the community.”

Their next event is Global Day of Parents on Saturday June 1, at Neptune Monaco Beach (reservations a must by email). The family-friend celebration starts with breakfast from 9:30 am. There will be a kids’ corner, activities, a bouncy castle (till 11:30 am offered by My Sweet Birthday) and mini massage sessions for little ones in partnership with the Maman Bulle, and a massage area for parents.

With the help of Kids & Co Monaco, the beach restaurant will become dedicated to families, equipped with changing table, high-chairs, stroller parking, placemat colouring, children’s menu, and a festive lunch (paid per family), bubble machines and a baby-friendly photo booth. A DJ will play until 5 pm. The event will also launch “The Monaco Parenthood Support Committee” to give parents of the local community “an opportunity to have their voices heard”.

This will be the last in-person event before summer but the Entreparents team is already working on “Let’s Meet Halloween”. “This is our next biggest meet up with approximately 900 people usually joining us for trick or treat fun at Larvotto,” says Clémence.

As mums and wives in their late thirties and early forties, Johanna, Anna, Clémence and Emilie say their involvement depends first and foremost on availability outside family and work commitments. “We trust and respect each other enormously, and completely understand the daily challenges we each face as mothers and women,” says Anna. “We are carrying out this project together by sharing the same values and, above all, sharing the love for our children which is our real motivation.”

As Johanna puts it, “We’ve started a long-term movement to lay the foundations in our community for the years ahead, and for children like my daughter.”

Bon App!

The Entreparents app has financial support from Monaco Telecom, the Monaco government and the Monaco-registered Cuomo Foundation, which was set up in 2001 by Alfredo and Maria Elena Cuomo.

The Italian couple had one simple vision: to help vulnerable children in India with access to education and a chance at a better life. Other initiatives expanded in Europe and gradually to other regions of the world. After Alfredo’s passing in 2009, Maria challenged herself and the Foundation to evolve and broaden its goals, achievements and partnerships. Today, the Foundation remains active globally in the fields of education, social assistance, environmental research and culture.

Article first published May 30, 2024. Video and feature photo copyright Good News Monaco.

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Why I shop at France’s most expensive supermarket

In the early morning of April 17, 2020, I was walking my dog when I saw two wild dogs wandering in the middle of the road. Our eyes locked just long enough for me to know what was about to happen. I scooped my dog into my arms and went into a brace position.

A high-pitch screech brought me back into my body, and when I opened my eyes, I realised it was me reacting to the sets of teeth piercing my skin. “They are going to kill you,” the voice in my head alerted. Somehow, I started running, dog clenched in arms. I darted across the street with the two beasts relentlessly chasing me as blood dripped down my legs.

This was halfway through the first covid lockdown so there were few vehicles passing by at 5:30 am. One knowingly drove by me but the 4-door car behind stopped. I jumped into the back seat. The dogs leapt onto the car as the driver tried to scare them off by honking. Eventually, the two (as I later learned) Malinois trained guard dogs that escaped from their villa continued toward Monaco and the young couple in the car dropped me off at home where I called the Police (the driver had already contacted them) who patched me through to an ambulance.

It wasn’t until after I was home from getting stitches and filing a police report (the dogs went on to attack three other victims in Monaco) that I realised I had no way of thanking the strangers who, literally, saved me and my dog from being mauled to death.

A few days later, a neighbourhood friend called to say the couple in the car worked at our local grocery story, Casino in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

When I reunited with them to express my gratitude, the driver told me a remarkable story. That same morning of the dog attack his two-door car wouldn’t start so he borrowed his girlfriend’s sedan to get to work on time. He said it was fate because with his coworker as a passenger there would not have been room for me in his car.

From that moment on, I have been a loyal customer of Casino Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. And I would be remiss, then, if I did not address this week’s headline calling it “France’s most expensive supermarket.”

Yes, it is pricey. This is a secret to no one. The staff talk about it, locals talk about it. It’s like saying people live in Monaco to avoid paying income tax.

Yet the store bordering Monaco, with a monthly overhead of €25,000 for rent and €10,000 for electricity, has its advantages. It opens weekdays at 7:30 am, so you can shop before going to work. For the budget sensitive like me, there is the CasinoMax app which gives you a 10% discount on each item. And unlike the super-sized Carrefour Monaco chockablock with shoppers, this Casino has manageable floor space with less people hogging up the aisles.

It is a store all about proximity for the Saint Roman community of all ages who shop without cars and prefer to haul their buggies and recycled bags with daily provisions rather than shop online.

The couple who run the place go out of their way to say hello to me; when my native Canada is in the news that ask about my family. I am in no way defending the owners or their retail pricing strategy. The survey (see video below) did not reveal the details of their operating expenses. Maybe they could reduce prices, I don’t know.

What I do know is that they have an exceptional staff. Every time I walk into the supermarket, there is a sense of family. I am greeted with a friendly hello, and some chit chat. These workers are mostly thirtysomethings trying to live their lives like anyone else. Some are single parents; others have had tragic loss. Some are fanatic about Christmas and baking; others have lost 20kg and are now passionate about sports. They are all accommodating in their roles and I am not always the most patient of customers.

These human connections matter to me more than the bottom line. And I think we forget that behind every headline there are lives impacted. I will continue to support France’s most expensive grocery store because someone who works there once did the right thing to help me. And doing the right thing is priceless.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2024: Casino Roquebrune-Cap-Martin becomes a Carrefour Market on September 16, 2024. This is part of a buyout by Carrefour, Auchan and Intermarché to buy 288 Casino stores.

Article first published on September 7, 2023.

Read in French here:

Pourquoi je fais mes courses dans le supermarché le plus cher de France
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Fergus Butler Gallie

During his travels and life as an expat in Europe, the Reverend Fergus Butler Gallie stumbled across story after story of the most incredibly heroic clergy. This promoted him to write Priests de la Résistance (2019), a book that The Guardian calls: “A stirring compendium of the lives of clergy who stood up to Hitler.” 

“I realised that, with a couple of exceptions, their stories were totally unknown in the UK, indeed some of them had no record of their deeds written in English. So what began as an attempt to remedy that, became a wider project as I discovered more and more examples,” says the current Vicar of Charlbury with Shorthampton in the diocese of Oxford.

Oxford and Cambridge-educated Fergus has served in churches in Liverpool and Central London, plus in chaplaincy at a school in Kent. And although only 31, the author has penned several articles for major media and written two other books – A Field Guide to the English Clergy: A Compendium of Diverse Eccentrics, Pirates, Prelates and Adventurers; All Anglican, Some Even Practising (2018) and his memoir, Touching Cloth: Confessions and communions of a young priest (2023).

Father Fergus will be giving a talk about the clerical resistance in World War II “and some lighter tales” on Friday, July 12, at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Monaco. He was invited by long-time friend Reverend Hugh Bearn, who says, “Father Fergus is a highly entertaining, witty, a skilled raconteur and a serious historian – a young man who embodies the notion of a traditional priest in the Church of England.”

Here are five questions we asked the Reverend Fergus on the subject.

Do you think history is repeating itself 80 years after the liberation of Europe from totalitarianism?

FBG: Well, I suppose so, but I think we ought to remember that much of Eastern and Central Europe experienced totalitarianism until 40 or so years ago, and Spain 55 years ago: history always repeats itself I think and the sad historical reality is that totalitarianism has actually been the norm, the question is how does one resist it?

History seems split on the view of Pope Pius XII. Some historians view him as ‘Hitler’s Pope’ but recently released historical documents show him as more of a shrewd politician who was able to safeguard the Catholic Church while also providing asylum for some Jewish people when he could. In light of your research, where do you fall on Pope Pius XII?

FBG: Gosh it’s very tricky. I think the real answer is that it’s complicated. I think either viewing him as entirely complicit with Hitler or as a hero are both inaccurate oversimplifications. What I would say is that almost all the leaders of Europe were on tightropes at the time. During the war itself I think the fact that clergy make up by far the largest section of the ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ and the horrific numbers of them killed in concentration camps, etc, speaks for itself in terms of the fact that the Church of which

Pius was head was perhaps the single most important organisation that resisted Nazism. However, I think what is perhaps more damning are his actions towards the end and just after the war where he appears to support clergy who were complicit in war crimes – in particular in Croatia – and allows, knowingly or not, the Vatican to be used as an escape route for those who should have faced justice. The truth is he was a conflicted, complicated character- probably too weak in terms of personality to ever become some sort of Catholic Churchill –but still trying to do his best and sometimes succeeding.

In your research, were any of the priests or nuns excommunicated by the church for helping those of the Jewish faith? If not, doesn’t that say something about the Catholic Church’s sympathies during the war?

FBG: No, clergy were never excommunicated for that and, as I say above, I think there’s is a strong argument to say that the Catholic Church in particular plays the most important resistance role of all in Europe during the Second World War. But I suppose it’s worth realising, as I say in the book, that the Church is about as diverse and widespread an institution as you can find by its very nature. There were plenty of clergy who collaborated very willingly alongside the heroes who resisted. The Church’s main issue is that it’s filled with humans who are, by its own teaching, fallible and sinful even when trying to do good.

If there is a worst-case scenario in Europe today and totalitarianism does spread, could you see members of today’s European clergy (Catholic or Protestant) making the same sacrifices?

FBG: I would hope so. I think the Church invariably comes into its own as a place where hope can spread when the political situation seems hopeless. I suppose the Church is less powerful than it was then but the fundamental truth that it proclaims – that we owe primary allegiance to God Almighty – has not gone away and one would hope it would inspire now as it did then.

When the war ended, were most of the priests and nuns that you wrote about celebrated as heroes or did they simply return to a quiet life within the Church?

FBG: Well, it varied. The wonderful Canon Felix Kir became a real celebrity – Mayor of Dijon for another two decades and, of course, having the blanc de cassis named after him because he drank so much of it. Others went on to run charities or parishes or religious orders, but the reality is that over half of those I wrote about didn’t survive the war at all. They were perhaps the greatest heroes.

To confirm attendance for the July 12 talk by Fergus Butler Gallie, contact hughbearn@gmail.com. A €10 entry fee at the door on July 12 will be donated to charity, and refreshments will follow at St Paul’s House.

Chaplain Hugh adds, “Father Fergus will be preaching at St Paul’s at 10:30 am on July 14 – the seventh Sunday after Trinity which is also Bastille Day – how apposite.”

Article first published July 9, 2024.

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Captain Rachel Burns

Rachel Burns remembers the exact moment she knew she wanted to be a pilot. “I was 8 years old, and I had seen a disaster movie about the plight of a 747.”

Rachel, who was a guest speaker at the Air League Monaco on June 21, was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, and describes herself as an energetic kid, playing netball, the piano and joining the Air Training Corps run by the Royal Air Force.

As a captain for British Airways, she is the first in her family to enter the aviation field. “There are scholarships out there that require zero flight experience, and you only need English and Maths at GCSE or brevet level to get into those courses. But higher educational qualifications help to make you stand out amongst the applicants for very few places.” Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Durham University and went to get her Airline Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL), which you need in order to become a commercial pilot.

The mother of two started working for BA in 1998 and has remained with the airline ever since. “In 1997, BA footed the cost for my cadetship. I spent around 18 months training before I joined the company. BA paid for my training, and I was bonded to the company for the first 5 years of employment.”

Rachel recalls her first passenger flight as surreal. “Everything is exactly the same as the simulator until you see the passengers. Then the terror sets in!”

She credits her most beautiful in-flight moment to the day she passed her command check. “At the end of the flight, the training captain gave me my captain’s stripes and told me to go and say goodbye to the passengers. Then he made an announcement to the passengers that they were saying goodbye and thank you to British Airways’ newest captain. After the huge amount of work and effort to achieve the rank, it was such a touching moment, and the passengers all congratulated me as they disembarked.”

Captain Rachel Burns with Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou at Air League Monaco event on June 21, 2024.

And with so many hours in her logbook, she is sympathetic to passengers who have a fear of flying. “It’s an unknown to many people. In a car you can see out of the windscreen the world ahead of you but in a plane, you see very little through the window so it’s hard to get that sense of what’s going on and it causes a feeling of loss of control and panic. It’s a shame people can’t come to the flight deck any more during the flight because in the days before 9/11 frightened passengers could come and see what’s actually going on and with was the full horizon rather than the partial view of either land or sky that you see through a window.

“We cured many a nervous flier back then. Also, you should think of turbulence as a potholed or cobbled street. The car bounces as it goes over it and may dip into a pothole but you’re still supported by the road. It’s the same in the air. The unsettled air causes bumps under the wings and that feels like the bumpy road.”

Over the years, her nerves of steel have served her well. Once she operated a flight from Heathrow to Denver with one of the air conditioning packs not working. Normally two packs working at a higher flow rate was equal to all three working in the basic mode. It was hot on the plane, and she expected it to cool once the engines were running and the aircraft airborne. It never cooled. “It was 29°C throughout the plane. The crew took off their ties and unbuttoned the tops of the shirts. I had to walk through the cabin to explain to people the situation. It was fantastic to see the turnaround in the passengers’ attitude when they spoke to the pilot. Initially they were largely angry and frustrated but by the end they were all having a fun bonding experience laughing about having cocktails and suggesting new crew uniforms including grass skirts or shorts. We landed in Denver and got off the plane to 30°C weather!”

Since the birth of her children, Rachel has worked 50% part time, taking work trips during a 14-day period then having 14 days off. She explains that a full-time roster will be around six 3- or 4-day trips or four to five longer trips. “When you’re on ‘home standby’ you need to be able to reach the airport within two hours. As I live abroad – outside of Nice – this means on home standby I have to be in a hotel near Heathrow. For short-haul crews there is also ‘airport standby’ where pilots have to wait at the airport to fill in for uncrewed flights immediately.”

By law, pilots can only be at the controls of an aircraft for a certain number of hours. “On long flights we have a spare pilot who takes over from one of the operating pilots to enable them to have a break. The break is taken in a bunk. On the 777 the flight crew (pilot) bunk is above the first few rows of seats. The cabin crew have bunks at the back of the plane in the roof above the last few rows of seats.”

According to the British Airways Gender Pay Gap Report 2023, the UK’s flag carrier has approximately 6.6% female pilots, which is above the national average of 5%. In 2023, the airline introduced the Speedbird Academy, a fully-funded pilot programme, to support our drive to improve representation in the pilot community. “When I joined in 1998, there were less than 50 females out of about 2,800 total pilots, which equates to just over 1%. As a women pilot, I do think I have to work harder and be better in order to be taken seriously although whether that is my perception or genuinely required is up for debate,” says Rachel.

“It is a male dominated environment but I have always been a bit of a tomboy, so I fit in anyway. I only ever once experienced offensive sexism at my time at BA. It was from a male captain who later lost his command due to incompetence. Karma is sweet!”

Rachel adds that the sexism she encountered came from outside the industry. “Before I became a pilot, people used to say it was an impossible job for me. At school or talking to people in general, there was a lot of opposition.”

And if she had listened to the naysayers? “I would have been a primary school teacher. I’m glad I never had to be though!”

Article first published June 23, 2024. Photos courtesy of Vanessa Ilsley.

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