DATELINE MONDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2022

Happy Monday morning greetings on this the last day of February which means tomorrow is 1st March Happy St David’s Day to all my Welsh readers and to all the readers who live in Wales.

This is a bumper week as well as St David’s Day it is also PANCAKE Day on 1st March, pancakes swimming in maple syrup with maybe a little fruit on the side to stay healthy and daffs at £1 a bunch in the supermarket what more could you possibly want, oh I know PEACE IN EUROPE more on that subject later in my Monday blog.

I hope all is well as I write this to you the sun is streaming in through the office window who knows I might even discard my warm winter hoddie of which I have several. The sun has some heat in it at last the end of February is my very favourite day of the year, the daffs are blooming, the crocuses are in full bloom, the magnolia trees are showing signs of life, COVID is being consigned to the history books and the promise of renewal is all around

More COVID Common sense

We may be possibly returning to where we were this time two years ago well almost it has been announced that London Gatwick airport South Terminal opens again on Sunday 27th March 2022!

Airlines operating from the South Terminal include British Airways, Vueling, Wizz, Ryanair, Norwegian, Turkish Airlines, TAP, Eastern Airways, Aurigny, Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, Air Malta, Air Europa and Enter Air, while easyJet will operate across both South and North Terminals.

Since last Thursday there is no legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive COVID test, unvaccinated close contacts will also not be legally required to isolate and hallelujah wearing face coverings will no longer be mandatory on the London Underground.

Countries have continued easing their Covid-19 travel restrictions including Germany which has removed the UK from its list of “high-risk” areas. This move by Germany’s government means that UK travellers no longer have to complete a pre-departure digital registration form – the change came into effect on Sunday 20th February. Fully vaccinated arrivals from the UK can enter Germany for any travel purpose. All visitors to Germany still must carry a negative Covid test result, proof of vaccination or show they have recently recovered from the virus.

Due to my well-publicised background I have to add that Israel is to allow entry to all visitors, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated, from Tuesday 1st March. Currently only fully vaccinated travellers are allowed into the country. Under the new arrangements, all arriving passengers will have to submit a negative PCR result before boarding their flight to Israel and take another PCR test after landing.

Ukraine

Covid common sense might be all over the place sadly actual common sense is in short supply and I of course refer to Vladimir Putin, what a horrendous little man. We all knew he was dodgy but now he is proving to the world how pernicious, destructive, nasty, irrational he actually is. I have to confess it is rare I get moved by what is happening in the world, but the tragedy, the waste, the destruction, the outrageous things are happening in Ukraine to innocent civilians as well as to the military forces who after all were civilians before they put on a uniform has really affected me. My thoughts and prayers go to the citizen of Ukraine as they try and are so far succeeding in slowing down the invading Russian Army. The more Putin demonstrates he is an out and out thug the more Presidential Volodymyr Zelenskyy rises in Presidential stature.

Again I am not a person consumed by worry, it is what it is, if it happens it happens, not much I can do about it HOWEVER he is a little worry of mine the world except for Bella Russe and maybe China although China abstained from a vote on a Western-led U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Russia’s military action in Ukraine. So if Putin is painted into a corner with no way out then he may just may be pushed to use the N option. I would like to think he is not mad and unhinged enough to use the n option but it is an option. I hope the west and the world can offer him a way of stopping this war and still be able to declare a hollow victory at least to his cronies back in Russia.

You may know that MM and Company has been representing Russian Event DMC since 2001, over 21 years I have been in touch with Valeria, Olga, Dennis and the Russian Event team it is clear from our conversations that this is Putin’s war it is not what the Russian public want.

MM and Company news update

Greece

Nassos and the team at AME DMC Greece sent me a video clip I just had to share with you https://youtu.be/tbC-q5SrS1A it is a minute long and it is very good

France

Pascal and the team at NACARA DMC France are planning to celebrate the fact that Disneyland Paris has reach their 30th Anniversary: From 6 March 2022, the Disneyland Paris team are launching a one-of-a-kind 30th Anniversary wonderland bursting to life with jaw-dropping shows, experiences and festivities. It also happens to be a great place for conferences and incentives just thought I would mention that.

That’s it you are now fully up to date