Dateline Monday 6th March 2023

Happy Monday morning, 1st March was the start of meteorological spring however, winter has been revisiting us all week last week it was soooo cold and as regular readers of my blog knows I do not do cold very well at all. It appears that we have more winter weather to come all week, snow in Scotland for sure, sub-zero temperatures on Wednesday further south and potentially some snow on Thursday now the good news it won’t last😊

Today and tomorrow is the Jewish Festival of PURIM, this is the classic Jewish festival summarised by three phrases.

1 They tried to kill us.

2 They failed.

3 Let’s eat 😊

Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, an official of the Achaemenid Empire who was planning to have all of Persia's Jewish subjects killed, as recounted in the Book of Esther (usually dated to the 5th century BCE). Haman was the royal vizier to Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I or Artaxerxes I) His plans were foiled by Mordecai of the tribe of Benjamin, and Esther, Mordecai's cousin and adopted daughter who had become Queen of Persia after her marriage to Ahasuerus.

The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing among the Jews. According to the Scroll of Esther, "they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor". Purim is celebrated among Jews by: Exchanging gifts of food and drink, known as mishloach manot, Donating charity to the poor, Eating a celebratory meal, known as se'udat Purim. Public recitation of the Scroll of Esther or reading of the Megillah, usually in synagogue, other customs include wearing masks and fancy dress costumes for both adults and children, public celebrations and parades and eating hamantashen ( "Haman's pockets"); we are encouraged to drink wine or any other alcoholic beverage to celebrate the joy of survival.

MM and Company news update

France

Pascal, Enrica and the team at NACARA DMC have told us that the fashion business LVMH Group is expanding into the hospitality industry. The Cheval Blanc Paris, opened in 2022, has proved to be a popular luxury hotel in the city. Then, in November 2022, the group announced it was launching a series of Louis Vuitton hotels and restaurants. in December 2022 Louis Vuitton opened LV Dream, a one-year pop-up exhibition with a café, across the street from Cheval Blanc Paris. The exhibition is an in-depth glimpse covering the 160 years of the history of the brand the nine rooms display early pieces, such as steamer trunks, leather valises and furniture. The latter rooms showcase accessories and fashions from its collaborations with artists and fashion designers. The café is upstairs from the Exhibition there is a white marble counter where each of the beautifully decorated pastries and desserts is individually displayed on a pedestal and covered with a glass dome. Many of the pastries are cleverly decorated or embossed with the iconic Louis Vuitton logo.

Southern Africa

Shaun, Brad and the team at The Inside Edge DMC are looking forward to June in Botswana, June means perfect weather and the start of the peak game viewing season. The Inside Edge DMC are always very excited to take groups into Botswana to see the largest elephant population in the world, one of their favourite game lodges is Chobe Game Lodge, as well as elephants game watchers can observe an African wild dog den when visiting Camp Moremi, or watch the movements of multiple animals as they gravitate towards the river for water when experiencing Chobe Savanna Lodge, June is a perfect time for game viewing.

Japan

Geraint, James and the crew at The J Team DMC Japan have told us that Aman Hotel’s sister brand Janu is set to open its first hotel, Janu Tokyo, this autumn. Located in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s modern urban village, the hotel will have 122 guestrooms on 13 floors, the Janu Tokyo is located in the B-2 District. All guestrooms will feature floor-to-ceiling windows with the majority having private balconies. Ranging from 600-square-foot deluxe rooms to the huge Janu Suite, there will also be several connecting rooms. Janu Tokyo will have six restaurants as well as a bar, lounge and garden terrace. The Janu Wellness Center, spanning over 44,000 square feet, its going to be a big Spa