Dateline Monday 12th February 2024

Happy Monday guys another lovely Monday morning has dawned, I hope you are well and that you had a great weekend. Sooo much going on this week.

More happiness this time its Happy Chinese New Year which started on Saturday and ends with the Lantern Festival on 24th February It is the Year of the Dragon. No not the Mother-in-Law 

I am back from Mauritius having been on a site inspection with the team at Hello Islands DMC the DMC MM and Company has represented since 2005 when they traded under a different name Connections DMC its same team, same management, new proposals, new creativity, same awesome quality,  just a different name that’s all. Funny how I managed to get a site inspection with Stephane Karl, Carine, Irisi and the Hello Islands DMC team when it was freezing cold in the UK and 29 degrees C and sunny in Mauritius. Same time next year please Hello Islands DMC team.

Even though I was working doing site inspections and stuff I still managed to get a bit of a tan I looked and felt a lot healthier than when I left London, got to love a boost of sunshine provided vitamin D

On my return signs of Spring on its way were definitely visible, the snowdrops (one of my Mum’s favourite flowers) have popped up through the lawn and garden edges, daffodils are beginning to appear in gardens in leafless London W10 and NW6.

Tuesday 13th February is PANCAKE DAY I can hear you ask why pancakes on pancake day and why pancake day in the first please, google provides the answer.  

Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were “shriven” (absolved from their sins). A bell would be rung to call people to confession. This came to be called the “Pancake Bell” and is still rung today. Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between February 3 and March 9. Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.

Wednesday 14th February Valentines Day

OMG its Valentine’s Day on Wednesday , I have got my chiropractor on standby to massage the poor postie’s back when he delivers the several sacksful of cards I usually get every year 😊 

Plus it is half term week yikeeessssss .

Not good news for Port Talbot with Tata closing the steel works to replace the coal fired furnaces with electric ones, a sign of the times for sure and whatever anyone says and I am no scientist the global warming” stuff seems to have some validity.

Today is 129th day Israeli babies, toddles, children, teens, women, men and seniors have been held hostage in the Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza, a glimmer of good news two of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been freed over the weekend by Israel’s defence force special forces team.

And dear reader that is about it from a David point of view for this week at least.  

MM and Company news update

Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Jyoti, Christina, Candy and the team at TRAVCO DMC have told us that  Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort has opened its doors in the United Arab Emirates. TRAVCO DMC have offices in Dubai Abu Dhabi and Oman they do not have an office in Ras Al Khaimah as it is only an hour or so down the road from Dubai, I was there in October it is a great place to chill.

The hotel is situated on a private peninsula with golden sands, the 174 room property has a range of accommodations including guestrooms and suites located in the main building or set within traditional riads. Each offers views from a private balcony or terrace. The resort also offers overwater villas with an outdoor deck with and private plunge pool. Anantara Mina Al Arab has six restaurants and bars on property. The signature restaurant, Mekong, offers a culinary journey through Thailand, Vietnam and China, while Beach House serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Other options include Sea Breeze, the all-day dining restaurant, a gourmet deli, a pool bar and a lobby lounge and bar.