Dateline Monday 18th August 2025

Happy Monday, yes another Monday morning but it’s in August so perhaps a bit more gentle than a Monday in say October that is of course if you don’t have children that are on holiday from school or nursery then gentle mornings simply do not exist. Today is the middle of August and a bit, guys enjoy the sunshine.

Talking of sunshine the weather last week was all over the place a few sunny days then Wednesday the sun simply did not put in an appearance, we had a storm thunder and lightning but hardly any rain, Thursday it rained for an hour just when I had to go out, typical. When the sun was not shining it was not cold but certainly not warm enough for me, it was hoodie time. When it comes to the weather all I want is consistency is that too much to ask?

President Trump and Prick Putin met in Alaska, Putin got the lot, a ride in the Beast (Trump’s Limo) a red carpet welcome, a fly past by military jets and stealth bombers that amused me Trump was saying to Prick Putin don’t mess with us just look at our fire power. What good did it do? Zilch, nothing, zero Putin did not move an inch Trump was played big time, so still the war goes on in Ukraine, drones attacked the very next day.   

On Friday 15th August the Royal British Legion, in partnership with the Government, hosted the Commemorative Event at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the Second World War.  Attended by Their Majesties the King and Queen, and over 30 VJ Day veterans, wreaths were laid and laments were played on the bag pipes. The commemoration featured 400 members of the Armed Forces as well as a flypast from the Red Arrows and historic aircraft from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. I have to say we do these types of occasions very well in the UK.

OMG A shooting in a New York bar has left three people dead and eight people hospitalised, police have said, the shooting happened in a crowded nightclub called Taste of the City in Brooklyn.

Investigators believe a shooter or shooters opened fire with multiple weapons just before 3.30am local time.

A Level results have been published yet again this year the girls have outperformed the boys. The director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham said the talents of boys are not being developed as “fully” as they could be, which could lead to a “decline in the nation’s economic competitiveness”. Professor Alan Smithers also predicted girls will continue to be ahead of boys at GCSE level. His comments come before pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their GCSE results on Thursday.

Soap box time

The bitter news AGAIN today, it is 683 days since Israeli and other nations’ citizens were on 7^th 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 imprisoned in squalid conditions in the Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza. A total of 50 Israelis are still being held captive by the group of evil, blood thirsty, barbaric terrorists called Hamas. Sadly out of the 50 people being kept in horrific conditions only 24 are still alive although it seems Hamas is starving some of the hostages to a slow death

The death cult Hamas has gone and DONE IT AGAIN upped the ante and increased the demands in order for them to agree a ceasefire, why? because they can see The West especially FRANCE, the UK and now Canada (not in my name) but thankfully not the USA who can see what these dreadful people are up to, are swallowing hook, line and sinker their horrific propaganda nonsense. Israel wants a ceasefire they have had more than enough of this dreadful war, Israel do not want to loose one more soldier or civilian BUT they must have a peaceful border without the threat from Hamas who have publicly said they would repeat the attack of October 2023 again, again and again. The only way for Israel to achieve this is in the total annihilation of the death cult Hamas  

Here is a thought, GAZA is 25 miles long 3-7 miles wide with 2.1 MILLION people living there and not ONE PERSON in Gaza has helped to find the 50 Israeli hostages

Off the soap box now

Good news Congratulations to all the teams that won of the first proper Saturday of the football season, I wonder if Arsenal can actually win the title this year and not be runners up again.  

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

MM and Company news update

The MM and Company news is that we are busy, August is supposed to be a quiet no travel month for the corporates no true anymore. This month so far we have helped clients with DMC services in São Paulo Brazil, Bangkok Thailand to deliver outstanding events, we have had a site inspection in Spain. New requests are coming in daily, September is looking busy and that is an understatement although it is fair to say some destination are super busy and others are not doing so well, but that is the cyclical nature of things in the industry     

Budapest

 Imola, Katinka and the team at COSMOS DMC Budapest have told us of a wonderful tradition that happens this week. Every year on 20^th August, Hungarians come together to celebrate a day rich with tradition and significance. This date marks the Feast of the New Bread, a heartfelt celebration of the first new bread baked from the year’s harvest. It symbolizes gratitude for the land’s bounty and the importance of bread in Hungarian culture. August 20^th is also dedicated to St. Stephen, the nation’s patron saint and the first king of Hungary. Coronated in 1000 AD, St. Stephen played a pivotal role in establishing the Hungarian State and promoting Christianity throughout the country. One of the most anticipated events is the first presentation of the “birthday cake of Hungary”. Each year, a new cake is chosen to represent the nation, adding a sweet touch to the festivities. The theme of the 2025 competition is “Dobos Cake 140”, commemorating the 140th anniversary of the creation of this special Hungarian delicacy. The basis of the winning cake is a reinterpretation of the classic Dobos cake and its specialty is sour cherry pálinka jelly and almond praline. Sounds lovely.  

And that is about it for this Monday you know as much as I know, wishing you an outstanding day and an awesome week ahead. If you are going on holiday, may I wish you an amazing time away from the work coal face, if you have just got back, welcome home, I hope you had a great time.