Dateline Monday 17th February 2025

Happy Monday, stone the blooming crows it was a very cold week last week, cold but mostly dry which I can just about put up with, we saw the sun on Friday at last. The weather forecast team has predicted sunny but cold days Monday and Tuesday rain the rest of the week with temperatures rising to a dizzy height on 12 degrees C.  

How was your Valentines Day? Mine was simply 14th February, no one declared their undying love for me nor their undying hate for me so I guess that was a result.

Look I am sorry to say this but if you decide to ride a motor bike through Iran you are going to get arrested and slung into jail. What is the matter with these people do they not read the newspapers or watch TV? if the Iran tossers can arrest a dual Iranian and British National Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe then two British plonkers on a motor bike swanning through their country are ideal candidates to be arrested and guess what now their families want to British Government to sort out the mess they put themselves in, well darlings if you are hoping for the Lamy fellow Foreign Secretary bod of this useless Labour Government to do anything you had better not hold your breath.

Oh and look what a mess Robbing Rachel I tell Fibs on my CV Reeves has got herself in, time to resign Rachie and bring back Mr Jeremy Hunt or Rishi Sunak to do a proper job.

JD Vance Vice President of the USA was in Munich at the Security Conference ruffling a lot of European feathers love the phase both Trump and Vance are regularly using “there is a new Sherrif in town”  whilst they are not my favourite people it is time Europe looked after its own security, what did Vance mean by saying the security threat is from within, I think I know and what’s more I think he is bang on the money. Europe needs to strengthen its defences to put Prick Putin off eyeing up any further territory he may fancy. Trump is right there needs to be a plan to stop the Russia Ukraine war far, far too many young lives on both sides are being lost or forever damaged, it has to stop.  

BITTERSWEET Soap box time

The bitter news today, it is 498 days since Israeli and other nations’ citizens were on 7th October 2023 wrenched violently from their homes, streets, fields and places of leisure in Israel and taken to be held hostage as pawns of war held in squalid conditions in the Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza. A total of 73 Israeli babies, toddlers, children, teens, women, men, seniors and other nationalities are still being held captive by a group of evil blood thirsty barbaric terrorists called Hamas.

The sweet news is that three hostages were released on Saturday in exchange for 380+ Palestinian prisoners, that speaks volumes literally. If the 73 hostages are released that means Israel will be required to release 9,246 more Palestinian prisoners. Madness total madness. The thing is once the Palestinian prisoners are released, they will restart their terrorist activities and be rearrested, a leopard does not change its spots.      

Off the soap box now

Finally, Sky News tells me that Pope Francis is not very well, I wish the Holy Father a quick and full recovery. I used to watch the BBC news but I am so very sick of their biased coverage of the situation in Israel that I have finally subscribed to Sky TV. The Sky man is coming this afternoon to sort out the fibre connection, I wonder if he will be wearing a light blue suit with a fishbowl helmet or will it be jeans and a high vis yellow vest. Stay tuned for an update

That’s it from a David point of view for this week at least.

MM and Company news update

Amsterdam

Alexandra, Andreas, Celina, Sophie and the DELTA DMC team have told us that EUROSTAR has resumed direct services from Amsterdam to London, EUROSTAR now runs three daily return train services on weekdays and Sundays with two services on Saturdays.

New York

Our awesome DMC team in New York have told us that the Four Seasons Hotel New York is reopening its doors The hotel with 219 rooms in the prime Midtown location a few yards from Central Park, world-class shopping and renowned culture. In the grand lobby, you can dine in soaring elegance or enjoy era-inspired cocktails at TY Bar, paying tribute to New York’s rich history. Guest rooms and suites offer unparalleled views of the park and NYC skyline

Japan

Normally it is our DMCs that tell us at MM and Company stuff that is new, cool and funky about their destination this time the tables have been turned we have told Geraint, James, Louis and the crew at The J Team DMC Japan that The Royal Albert Hall is hosting The Grand Sumo Wrestling Tournament from Wednesday 15th October to Sunday 19th October 2025. I suggested to James and the crew that this would be an terrific event to host some of our awesome clients. I do not know the full details yet, but I am guessing we could, depending on timing of the Sumo gig, meet at 6PM for drinks, watch the tournament then go for dinner, sushi and sashimi of course with alternatives available for guests that do not do sushi. This is just an idea that I am putting out there please let me know if you are interested in joining us and I will start an invitation list. 

And that is about it, you are up to date, wishing you a terrific week ahead