DATELINE MONDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2018

Oh no, it can't be, oh yes it is, it's Monday morning again. This week goes quickly the weekend even quicker, we are already in the second week of February which means it's Valentines Day this week and as a romantic at heart, I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day. If every day was Valentine's day, there would be a lot more love in the world and goodness knows looking at some of the news items over the weekend, we need a lot more love in this world. Apart from Valentine's this week, on Friday 16th February it is the Chinese New Year this year is the year of the DOG. I know you are desperate to know how to greet your fellow Chinese friends so here goes Gung hay fat choy is how Cantonese speakers wish a happy new year - literally "wishing you great happiness and prosperity." Gong xi fa cai is how Mandarin-speakers wish you a happy new year - literally "wishing you to be prosperous in the coming year." Is that too much information yes I thought so.
Whoa, what a day Sunday was, a wonderful sparking crystal clear morning with sunshine and even a little heat in the sun although a very cold wind, by the time 9PM arrived it was freezing cold with snow showers, making Spring seem a long way off even if Daffs are £1.00 a bunch in M&S.
DMC News* MM and Company News * Destination News*
Mauritius Anusha, Davina and the team at Connections DMC have told us that they have two public holidays this week one being the 13th February; Mahashivaratree where all Indians of the Island plan a pilgrimage of the holy lake Grand Bassin and celebrate the god Shiva. The other on the 16th February is for the Chinese New Year. If you need anything urgently please let us know otherwise they will be back in the office on the 14th and 19th February.
Slovakia In a few weeks' time Marek Farkas of Enjoy Slovakia DMC is coming over to make sales calls and we are very much looking forward to welcoming Marek. We are noticing a big pick up in requests and confirmed groups for this very versatile destination. We are also hosting a Business Development trip (aka FAM trip) to Bratislava departing 19th April for two nights. We have bought 10 tickets on British Airways. So please watch out for your invitation coming to a screen near you very soon.
Greece Nassos Stephenson the MD of AME Greece has told us that the Metropolitan Hotel (formerly a Chandris Hotel) will be opening in April this year following a total refurbishment, under the new name of Athens Marriott from the 1st May this year. More information will follow in due course.
Leyla and Hannah's twitter and witter bit of the Monday morning e mail
Leyla goes off to do her homework, she sits in front of the computer allegedly researching her subject but all I can see and hear is rap music and American comedy shows and she says to me "this is the way Is study Daddy". It's fair to say I get quite annoyed but judging from the response we got from her teachers the other day at her school open day, she's a good student with good reports. Indeed, excellent reports from the teachers that she likes and works hard and mediocre reports from the teachers she doesn't like, there's a surprise! Hannah's open day is in March, I think Hannah has to work much harder than Leyla to get good results and she seems to do her homework in a much calmer atmosphere.
School regulations demand that the girls wear skirts to their knees, why is it then, that when they leave the house with their skirts just above the knee and return from school with their skirts hitched up so high it's almost but not quite like a revealing mini skirt? I'm told by Sandra that is what all teenager girls do. I would prefer my girls not to do that however, my preferences aren't generally taken into account. The girls are on half term holiday this week and for some reason seem quite happy about it
That's it, you are now up to date, wishing you an awesome week.