Real Mallorca’s Coaching Changes: A Turning Point

I’ve kept my powder dry on what’s been happening at Real Mallorca over the last few weeks. I think it had become obvious that the coach, Jagoba Arrasate, had taken the team as far as he could. When he came to the club in July 2024 from Osasuna, he was known as an attacking coach who loved to promote younger players into the team.

He started well enough, and by Christmas that year they’d accumulated enough points to virtually assure their La Liga status for the following season. That was when the wheels started to come off, as the second half of the season was awful. That disappointing form continued into the start of this season, and by Christmas I thought the club would look elsewhere.

However, they continued with some good results at home, notably against Sevilla and Athletic Club, but away they were awful. Arrasate finished his tenure at Real Mallorca with a win rate of approximately 30.9% (21 wins in 68 matches).

His record across all competitions during his time in charge (spanning from July 1, 2024, to his departure on February 23, 2026) was:

Matches: 68

Wins: 21

Draws: 15

Losses: 32

The disappointing part of his tenure was not promoting enough youngsters into the first team. The squad is ageing and needs some young, refreshing talent. The only young player who was successful was Jan Virgili, brought in from Barcelona. It was a shame to see former San Francisco forward Marc Domenech loaned out when backup was needed for Muriqi.

When the club did decide to twist, it was obvious they didn’t have a candidate in place. Luis García Plaza and Kike Sánchez Flores seemed to be the two names in pole position. The only problem was that the club did not want to commit to a contract longer than the end of the season, as if they were relegated budgets would have to be cut.

Out of the blue, Argentine Martín Demichelis appeared. The former Manchester City and Bayern Munich player had played over 50 times for his country and had been coaching in Argentina. He agreed to take the short contract and try to keep Mallorca in La Liga.

Demichelis’ first match was yesterday afternoon, away in Pamplona against Osasuna, a side that had only lost two games at home so far this season. Unbelievably, Mallorca found themselves 0–2 up in a game they dominated. That was until Virgili was sent off in the 73rd minute. Osasuna managed to get two goals back, with the second coming from former Mallorca player Ante Budimir.

In all honesty, if you’d offered Mallorca a draw before the game they would have taken it, but having been 0–2 up it will feel like a loss. The huge plus is the form of Vedat Muriqi, who has scored 18 goals this season so far. Making him the second best scorer in La Liga, 5 goals behind Kilian Mbappe of Real Madrid. 

With 11 games to go, Mallorca lie in the relegation places, but a win could see them climb out. The next game is at home to Espanyol next Sunday at Son Moix, kick-off at 14:00.

I can’t stress enough how important it is for Mallorca to stay up. It’s great for tourism, as people do visit the island to watch football. It’s great for those of us who live here to see teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid play live. And finally, it’s great for youth football here on the island. To have a team playing in La Liga is so aspirational for all of our young footballers.

As they say here in Spain “Si se puede”(yes we can).

Revisiting UK School Term-time Holiday Policies

I went back through my blogs to see the first time I talked about the ludicrous policy of not being able to take children out of school during term time back in the UK. It was 2017, and it seems that we are in no better position now than we were back then. This was a policy brought in by the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition in 2012.

When I first arrived in Mallorca in 1990, families used to enjoy the island from May to October without any restrictions. Now what happens is that you get a rush at Easter, Whitsun, July/August and the October half term. The rest of the time, they are supposed to be in school.

The fine for school absences across the country is £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid after that. You have to get permission from the head teacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time.

You can only do this if:

• You make an application to the head teacher in advance (as the parent the child normally lives with).

• There are exceptional circumstances.

It’s up to the head teacher how many days your child can be away from school if leave is granted.

Isn’t this all a bit draconian? What about asking the government to actually think outside the box and relax the rules preventing kids from travelling during term time? Before 2012 this was the case — and do we truly believe that children suffered in their education?

This is not about encouraging truancy; this would be an agreement between parents and teachers who, let’s face it, are the people who should decide — not a government minister. If the child has a good attendance record and is not behind in their work, in my view they should be encouraged to go on holiday. Seeing new countries, experiencing new cultures, hearing new languages and tasting different cuisines should be part of their education.

There are now definite signs that this policy is out of date and needs changing.

Fines for term-time holidays reached a record high of 459,288 last year, as parents accepted penalties to snap up cheaper deals. New figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show the number of these fines rose by 4 per cent in 2024–25 compared with the previous year. Term-time holiday fines accounted for 93 per cent of all penalties issued for unauthorised school absence.

Many families take such holidays in full knowledge that they will have to pay the fine, because it is still cheaper than paying the peak-season premium.

The cost of flights and accommodation can be more than double for a family travelling during the school holidays, as travel companies cash in on high demand.

Parents can save thousands of pounds by taking their children out of school, while the fine for doing so is only £80 per parent, per child.

The data is the first to capture those fined after the penalty amount increased from £60 previously — suggesting it has not proven to be a deterrent.

For me, there is a perfect solution: return to how it was before, using the method I just mentioned above. I’m sure the holiday companies would be more than happy with families travelling throughout the year rather than just during the peak periods. The government would benefit from increased tax revenue through more travel — and that’s something they definitely need right now.

What’s in it for Mallorca, or any other holiday destination for that matter? Well, when we’re talking about sustainability, surely this is the perfect answer? Spreading visitors more evenly throughout the year rather than concentrating them in the current busy periods has to be better. It would also help employment here on the island, with establishments able to stay open longer and fewer unemployment benefits having to be paid.

Personally I don’t see any negatives. 

Debate on Playground Football Restrictions: A Parent’s Perspective

Looking back, going to school was one of the fun times in my life. I say “fun” because, to be honest, studying wasn’t my strong point. I go back to the days when your whole school year depended on an end-of-year exam — and there was my problem.

My daily schoolwork, whilst not amazing, was passable, but if I had to revise for something, I was dead in the water. I couldn’t sit still in a room and study. I was too busy wanting to go and play football. That could have been outside in the street, at school in the playground, or for the school team. In the evenings, I was playing for my youth football team and training with my town team too.

I made my debut for my town team at just 15 years old in the then Isthmian League, playing in front of a few hundred people — and that was a pretty good standard at that time.

So I didn’t have time for Maths, Biology, and French exams. It was football or nothing for me. I remember my French teacher writing in my school report, “When will Richard realise that a laugh and a joke won’t get him through life?”

One of the things I loved at school was the lunchtime break. We used to congregate in the playground, pick two teams, and off we went. Now, I was a goalkeeper, just like my youngest son Jude is now, but there was no way I was playing in goal in the playground. I was running around trying to show my mates how good an outfield player I was.

It was very competitive, of course, and nobody wanted to go back into a double chemistry lesson having been on the losing team. Competitive also meant that every now and again it would get feisty and disagreements would occur. I went to an all-boys school, so the testosterone was flying around, as you can imagine, but it would soon cool down and on we went. Writing this now brings back great memories and, for me, it was all part of growing up.

So imagine my surprise when I read on the front page of one of the Spanish papers here in Mallorca that schools are going to limit the playing of football in the playground due to the conflicts it generates. Are we serious??

I posted this on my Facebook page and it got a huge reaction — most finding it a stupid decision and a few supporting it. In fact, some parents have said that in some schools already kids can only play on certain days. One parent from the UK said it happens at his son’s school. Another parent here says his son comments excitedly every Thursday that it’s his day to play football. Another said her son had said that arguments in the playground happen anyway, not just because of football.

I saw the paper that had written the story had posted it on their Facebook page, and the pile-on from the Spanish was unbelievable. I couldn’t find one person who supported it.

In an official statement issued last Thursday evening, the FFIB (the Balearic Football Federation) expressed its regret that initiatives are being promoted that could limit children’s participation in sports, and pointed out that football is the most popular sport in the Balearic Islands, with a long history and social impact that makes it a key tool for education, coexistence, and the comprehensive development of children and young people.

The Federation emphasised that youth football goes far beyond mere competition. It is, they explain, a learning environment in which values such as respect, teamwork, discipline, equality, effort, and solidarity are transmitted — all of which are essential elements in the personal and social growth of young people. Through clubs and sports schools, thousands of schoolchildren learn to live together, manage their emotions, and face challenges in a regulated and supervised environment.

I couldn’t have put it better myself.

The Absurdity of UK Politics: A Deep Dive

Politics and religion have long been known as subjects to steer clear of, and in this day and age you could probably add gender in there too.

But politics, believe it or not, is something I’ve always been fascinated by. I don’t really know why, as I have no family history to back that up.

A lot of people will be tuned into EastEnders or Coronation Street of an evening, but I always try to make time to watch Prime Minister’s Questions at 12 midday UK time on a Wednesday. If I miss it, I’ll always watch it on catch-up or YouTube. I know I should get out more, but I’m drawn in by watching grown men and women, most of the time, talking absolute rubbish and always blaming each other for the problems in the country whilst never coming up with the solutions that are needed. It’s like being back in the playground at school, except these are the people who are supposed to be running the country.

These past few weeks have been very interesting, with some Conservative politicians, both in and out of the party, defecting to Reform UK. Now let’s get this straight: politicians have no morals, and as soon as you hear them say, “I’m putting the country first,” you know it’s complete bull and that they’re trying to save their own political careers because they’ve been rubbish at anything they’ve done in the past. In fact, if they truly believe in putting the country first, then call a by-election so the voters can decide if they still want them as their MP.

When asked in her press conference about this, Braverman said that she believes that if an MP changes party there should be a by-election — but then waffled on about why, after she has changed party, there shouldn’t be a by-election in her constituency. Putting the country first?

The three main protagonists right now are Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman. All three have, in the past, criticised Reform or have been criticised themselves by its leader, Nigel Farage. And yet, when asked about it in their press conferences, they hide behind the words, “Well, we say things in the heat of politics, but we don’t really mean them.” These are the very same failed politicians who want another chance to run the country. Are they really expecting us to believe this utter crap they come out with?

Remember, Suella Braverman was sacked twice as Home Secretary; Nadhim Zahawi was sacked after it emerged he’d been investigated by HMRC for not paying enough tax when he was Chancellor — not to mention claiming expenses from taxpayers for heating his stables — and Robert Jenrick was sacked as Housing Secretary by Boris Johnson in September 2021 following controversies. He was later removed from the shadow cabinet and had the Conservative whip withdrawn in January 2026 by Kemi Badenoch after planning to defect to Reform. But Reform are happy to take them into the party to help run the country if they get back into power.

The problem is: what are the alternatives? The current Labour government, which arrived triumphant only 18 months ago, seems to be doing its very best to get everything wrong. Countless U-turns on unpopular policies, followed by decisions by the Chancellor which beggar belief.

The Conservatives seem to be in a downward spiral, and I’m not sure how they get themselves back on track. Then there are the Liberal Democrats, who, despite the complete incompetence of the two main parties, never actually seem to go anywhere.

So it seems that Reform has the momentum right now, and it’s going to be interesting to see how this all pans out. Remember that Zahawi, Jenrick and Braverman all wanted to be leader of the Conservative Party — and failed. Don’t be surprised if one of them tries to topple Farage at some point because, as I said before, they’re only in it for themselves.

I, of course, no longer live in the UK, so I’m watching from afar. Although, to say things are rosy here in Spain, with a coalition government that’s going nowhere, isn’t easy either!

I would, though, always encourage you to go out and vote. In the words of Plato, who is considered one of the most brilliant and influential philosophers in history:

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors” — or, in modern terms, by idiots!

I’ll leave you with that great line from an old song by Stealers Wheel, which couldn’t sum up politics and politicians in a better way:

“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you.”

Travel Habits Changing: The Impact of Rising Airport Fees

Over the Christmas and New Year break, when you have too much free time on your hands, I find myself doing things I wouldn’t normally do. Facebook and Instagram are platforms I use on a daily basis in my working life, but X — or Twitter in old money — I rarely use. However, when I have time, I find myself going down a rabbit hole of scrolling and commenting on some of the absolute rubbish that people write. I know I should just leave it alone, but sometimes I can’t help myself.

While we were away, we discovered that we needed to get Jude, our youngest, back for a game of football and training. If we had known beforehand, then maybe we wouldn’t have gone, but we had already booked four days away to see family and friends. Luckily, we were staying with some friends near Gatwick Airport, so we booked him an early-morning flight from there. I took the liberty of checking whether there was a charge to drop someone at the airport, as I knew that Luton — where we had flown from — charged £7.00. I couldn’t believe it when I read that they had put their charge up from £7 to £10.00!

So, of course, I decided to send a tweet to the airport:

How does @Gatwick_Airport substantiate a £10 drop-off charge when my @easyJet flight in January costs €19? #ripoffbritain

Within minutes, I got a reply from the airport:

Hi, while we will be increasing our drop-off charge from £7 to £10, passengers can be dropped off for free in our long-stay car parks, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal. Blue Badge holders remain exempt from the charge. The drop-off charge helps to limit the number of cars, reduce congestion, and fund a number of sustainable transport initiatives. It also plays a role in encouraging more passengers and staff to use public transport to reach the airport. Thanks, Grace

Then came the pile-on, with loads of comments mainly chastising the airport for what is basically a money grab. For a few hours, I actually went viral, which was fun. But the more serious side of me focused on the attitude of UK airports towards their passengers arriving at the airport.

London City: £13.00 (10 mins)

Heathrow: £7.00 (10 mins)

Manchester: £6.40 (10 mins)

Glasgow: £6.00 (10 mins)

Belfast: £3.00 (10 mins)

Cardiff: £3.00 (10 mins)

Compare that to some of the major airports around the world:

Palma: Free 

Paris (CDG, Orly): Free

Madrid (Barajas): Free

Frankfurt: Free

Barcelona: Free

New York JFK: Free

Dubai: Free

Seamus McCauley, Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras, commented:

“Airport drop-off fees have quietly become one of the fastest-rising costs of going on holiday. What used to be a quick goodbye can now cost up to £10 — and that’s before you factor in fines if it takes a little longer than anticipated.”

According to a new report, because of the financial squeeze in the UK, several long-standing travel habits are quietly being ditched this year. From packing techniques to what travellers get up to once they are inside airports, there are plenty of changes being made.

The biggest behaviour being dropped is holidaymakers no longer drinking and dining as much in airports. For some, an airport pint or a full English is the perfect fuel before a flight, but it appears this might not be as popular anymore. Rising prices and the overall cost of living mean more people are packing permitted snacks in their hand luggage to cut expenses and avoid buying food and drink at airports.

As for what travellers are putting in their bags, this has changed too. Passengers are now less likely to overpack, with many leaving the bad habit behind to avoid extra charges and baggage fees. Low-cost flights still exist, but by the time you’ve added on the extras, they aren’t anywhere near the price advertised. It’s mad that an airport drop-off, a bag that doesn’t fit the airline’s sizer, or even a caramel macchiato can actually cost more than a flight.

The travel industry needs to make sure it doesn’t price itself out of the market.

Sant Sebastià 2026: A Festival of Music and Tradition in Mallorca

Spain is widely known for its tradition of fiestas. A fiesta in Spain is a vibrant festival or celebration, often rooted in religious holidays honouring saints or commemorating historical events, but also encompassing cultural, seasonal, or modern parties. These celebrations typically feature music, parades, food, fireworks, and unique local traditions.

The patron saint of Palma de Mallorca is Saint Sebastian (Sant Sebastià), a Roman soldier martyred for his faith. His feast day is celebrated with major festivities in the city in the middle of January featuring concerts, bonfires, and traditional parades such as the Correfoc. He became the city’s patron after his relic was brought to the Cathedral, coinciding with the end of a plague and symbolising protection against epidemics.

This Friday, January the 16th the Crystal Fighters take to the stage in Plaça d’Espanya. They are an English-American electronic music band formed in London in 2007. Known for their explosive fusion of electronic music, folk influences, and festival energy, the band promises one of the international highlights of this year’s programme. Their Instagram says they are excited to start the New Year together with a free concert for all. 

On Saturday, January the 17th, the now-popular tardeos will spread across Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I and Plaça Major, with DJ sessions and live performances aimed at a broad audience. It’s a format that continues to grow in popularity, perfect for enjoying music during the afternoon while soaking up the atmosphere of Palma’s city centre.

Everything will culminate on January the 19th with the Revetla de Sant Sebastià, when simultaneous concerts will take over multiple city squares. Urban music and electrolatino will dominate Plaça d’Espanya, local talent and tradition will shine in Plaça Major, Catalan pop and Balearic sounds will fill Plaça del Rei Joan Carles I, and rock history will resonate in Plaça de Cort.

All in all, Sant Sebastià 2026 is shaping up to be a celebration marked by diversity, blending generations, traditions, and musical styles into a vibrant cultural offering that once again places Palma’s streets at the heart of the party.

Charity Highlights: Our 2025 Christmas Contributions

I trust you all had a good Christmas and enjoyed time with family and friends. At the time of writing, we are between Christmas and New Year, which is always the time of year when you lose all track of days and dates. Why is that? We are preparing to leave for the UK for a quick visit, with my youngest son having to return early for football training.

I wanted to update you on a couple of charity events that we’ve been involved with. A few weeks ago, I interviewed Charlie Quirke, the son of actress Pauline Quirke, who was walking 140 km in five days for Alzheimer’s Research UK. He completed the walk and, to date, has raised an amazing £273,147.00!

The charity wrote:

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much to everyone who sent Charlie a message, shared on social media and donated. He couldn’t have done it without you all. We will be going into 2026 full of hope for the future and hope for a cure.”

One of the main reasons for my return to the radio with Wave Mallorca was to restart our push to help charities on the island and beyond. All the way through the year, we help promote charity events on air, and in June we held our own Radiothon. Another important time of year to help people is at Christmas.

We’d like to thank everyone who helped us along the way.

Everyone who donated money, with special mention to Helen at Martial Arts Mallorca, Mark Millward, and Hooties Golf Society.

All the people who helped us with our raffle — whether you sold or bought tickets or donated a prize.

The three auction prize donors and the people who won them.

Nice Price and Eroski Bendinat, who allowed us to carry out food collections outside their shops. Nick from Yachting Gives Back for organising it, and the volunteers who gave up their time to help us.

We managed to fill a van and a car full of food for the homeless.

Quentin Theander from Mallorca Christmas Trees donated two Christmas trees to Llar Kurt and Llar Inge, who look after homeless people. 

The three charities that we helped in different ways were Yachting Gives Back, Fundación Nazaret, and SOS Animal Mallorca.

Nick from Yachting Gives Back said:

“Many thanks from all of us at YGB to all the team at Wave Mallorca and all your generous listeners and sponsors for your great support. The money raised will fund several of the monthly shopping trips we do for our chosen local charities.

Merry Christmas!”

Guillem from Fundación Nazaret said:

“Very good morning, and thousands of thanks to all the listeners for the vouchers for all the children and young people of Nazaret, but especially super thanks for remembering them. That makes them feel that they are important to someone, despite not being able to enjoy Christmas with their families. For all this, thank you very much and happy holidays!”

Maxi from SOS Animal Mallorca said:

“Thank you so much for your initiative to help the animals of SOS Animal, and also to your listeners. With the food donation, our cats and dogs will also have a Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks a lot to all of you, and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Thanks again to everyone who helped us. We look forward to 2026 with even more enthusiasm to help more people both here and beyond.

Support Local Businesses in Mallorca This Holiday Season

Mallorca is, of course, known for its summer sun, but increasingly it is diversifying into a year-round destination. The weather has been much milder this current winter, and as we lead up to Christmas, Palma and Calvià are becoming the go-to places for shopping, Christmas markets, and great food and drink.

Well done to Calvià Council for offering their voucher scheme again, where residents could receive up to €40 off at participating shops. There was a budget of €250,000 on offer, which ran out in a matter of days, but it was a welcome boost for shop owners who remain open throughout the winter. I have highlighted here a few businesses that are working hard up to Christmas with food, drink, and gift ideas.

No Christmas is complete until you get yourself a tree. Not a fake one though — in my opinion, it has to be real.

At Mallorca Christmas Trees, their arborists (that’s tree surgeons to you and me) have been growing and selling the highest-quality, most sustainable, and durable Nordmann fir Christmas trees since the industry commenced in Denmark in the early 1970s. Their philosophy has always been to prioritise quality over quantity, ensuring the ethical treatment of workers, the earth, and their clients. These values are essential to their organisation. For every 10 trees they cut, they replant 14.

Tree stands, branches for decorations, and delivery are available at an additional cost.

For more information, please visit http://www.mallorcachristmastrees.com, find Mallorca Christmas Trees on Facebook and Instagram, or call or WhatsApp Quentin on +34 611 718 440. Mention me and he’ll give you a little discount. 

Not sure where you’re going to buy your meat and fish this Christmas? Bespoke Provisioning has you covered. From high-quality free-range turkeys, succulent rib roasts, and whole gammons to fresh fish such as lobsters and langoustines, they offer an exceptional range.

They specialise in the highest-quality meat and fish, fully trimmed, cut, filleted, vacuum-packed, labelled, and delivered on time. You can find them on social media under Bespoke Provisioning, call or WhatsApp Simon on +34 619 593 387, or email sales@mn2v.co.

Amor de Palmera was founded by Yasmin out of her love of art and nature, combining the two through ceramics. She finds inspiration in the beautiful island of Mallorca and the concept of slow living, from creating her own collections to bespoke commissions. This vision is incorporated into all her ceramic pieces, conveying a sense of peace and tranquillity to those who use them in their homes and daily lives, bringing the spirit and energy of the Mediterranean indoors.

Yasmin also offers workshops where participants paint either a plate or a cup. After the workshop, the piece is taken back to her studio to be fired in her kiln and is ready approximately a week later, making it fully tableware-ready. There’s no need to worry about having a creative flair — anyone can enjoy ceramic painting, with plenty of guidance and support to help you achieve the design you’re looking for.

Whether buying one of her designs or creating one yourself, her ceramics make a wonderful Christmas gift this holiday season. You can view her full collection and contact her via Instagram at @amordepalmera.

This holiday season, let Elissa and Mike from World of Wine deliver the perfect gift straight to your doorstep. From exquisite wines and elegant champagnes to premium spirits, they cater to every budget and every occasion.

Whether you’re celebrating with family, thanking clients, or simply indulging yourself, they specialise in delivering directly to boats, villas, and private homes, ensuring your festivities are seamless. You can contact them on 669 075 466 or email sales@worldofwine.es.

All of the above offer great products, excellent service, and good value for money — and by choosing them, you’re also supporting local businesses.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Walking for Pauline: A Son’s Journey of Love, Hope and Determination

Birds of a Feather actress Pauline Quirke MBE was diagnosed with dementia in 2021. Her family, who are unsure what stage she is at, have spoken of the “disbelief” they felt at the time.

I have known Pauline, her husband Steve, and their children Charlie and Emily for a very long time. They used to own a property here in Mallorca, which is when I first interviewed Pauline. That interview sparked a meeting with my wife Rachael, Pauline, Steve and me that led to the opening of the Pauline Quirke Academy here in Mallorca in 2009.

PQA is a performing arts academy for children and young people aged 4–18, offering classes in musical theatre, comedy and drama, and film and television. They have over 200 academies in the UK and here  in Mallorca, it runs every Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 at Agora School in Portals Nous.

Since Pauline’s diagnosis, the family have been very private, as they did not want any press intrusion. Last month they shared an update on Pauline’s condition, and the news that Charlie will be bringing hope home this Christmas by embarking on a trek in honour of his beloved mum. The trek starts next Monday, the 8th of December, and he will walk 140 km in five days, raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

I interviewed Charlie last week to find out more about it.

RP: Hi Charlie, good to talk to you. I think everybody would like to know: how is your mum?

CQ: Hi mate, thank you for asking. She’s good. You know, she is still, as you know, the funniest woman ever—caring and loving as always. We’re all determined to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for this illness.

RP: Just over 15 years ago, we started the Pauline Quirke Academy here in Mallorca, and it’s been fantastic. The support that we’ve received from both your mum and your dad has been amazing throughout that time. This is a great thing you’re doing, Charlie. When do you actually start?

CQ: Monday, December the 8th. So yeah, it’s a little under two weeks now. It’s come around fast, and I’m walking for five days across five counties, embarking on places that have touched my mum’s life, and our family’s life and history. So starting in Chigwell—the iconic home of Birds of a Feather, of course—then to West Ham’s training ground, through London to Islington, then Windsor where my mum got her MBE, then to the headquarters of PQA, and finally to where we now live.

RP: Five days, 140 kilometres. So it’s more or less 30 kilometres a day. So we’re talking… well, not far off a marathon a day, basically.

CQ: Yes. Maybe I’m not good enough at maths—I didn’t realise how much it was! I think it’s about three and a half marathons in the five days.

RP: Have you been training? I ask because am I right in saying that you are recovering from a broken leg?

CQ: So, in a football match at the end of August, I fractured my tibia and did my MCL. So it’s all been a bit of a mess. I was allowed out yesterday for the first time in four months to walk for about 45 minutes in one go. So I’m aching a little bit now.

RP: You need to make sure you have a good pair of trainers. I think I saw you out in a pair of Adidas the other day?

CQ: I’ve been lucky enough that Alzheimer’s Research UK have got me all kitted out in Adidas. Adidas wanted to come on board and help the cause. So yeah, I’m head to toe in Adidas clobber, and the shoes are actually Alzheimer’s Research UK colours, so that’s a good omen.

RP: Have you got people joining you on the walk?

CQ: Yeah, so they’ve been keeping it a surprise, but I think I’ve got a lot of familiar faces from my mum’s career joining me. Also a lot of my friends that are in the industry. Some actors that my mum’s worked with who can’t make it because of scheduling issues, but who really appreciate and respect my mum, are sending good-luck videos as well.

RP: If people want to donate, what’s the best way to do it?

CQ: The best way is the website, which is trek.charliestrek.org. You can go on there and see all the reasons why I’m doing it, and there’s a nice little handy donation button. Otherwise, you can text CHARLIE20 or CHARLIE10 to 70255.

RP: Right now you are just under £50,000, which is an amazing amount of money.

CQ: I never had a figure in my head. I’m hoping I can get to six figures and that now seems a possibility. That’ll make such a difference for research and for finding a cure. It’s incredible—the amount of money shows the amount of support and love for my mum. It’s such a nice feeling, honestly.

RP: Well, listen mate, we wish you all the luck. Please send our love to your mum, your dad and your sister too.

CQ: Cheers Richie, and thanks for your support.

Christmas is a time when families may notice signs of dementia for the first time—a condition almost one million people in the UK are living with today. Heartbreakingly, there is no cure for the condition—yet.

But Alzheimer’s Research UK exists to change that. With your support, the charity will give families hope by funding the research that will change and save lives. Here in Mallorca and across Spain there are support groups that are listed below. 

  • Age Concern Mallorca: They provide a wide range of support, including advice, help with paperwork, and connecting people with support groups for dementia and Alzheimers.
  • Ceafa: This is part of the Spanish Alzheimer’s network and is active in Mallorca.
  • Fundación Pasqual Maragall: This foundation has a presence in Mallorca, including holding awareness events in Palma. 
  • Age in Spain: Provides information and referrals for dementia care and support services across Spain.

Nearly all of us have family, a friend or someone we know that suffers from this awful illness, I wish Pauline, Steve, Charlie and Emily all our love. 

Remembrance and Identity: A British Expat’s Tale

I came to Mallorca back in 1990. Back then, I worked the summer seasons and went back home in the winter to look for work. My wife Rachael and I met at Pirates; she was Captain Scarlett and I was Captain Darling. We bought an apartment together in 1999, and once we had done that, we tended to stay here in the winters more and more. We got married in 2005 and moved to where we live now, and not long after that our first son, Jacob, was born. Three and a half years later our second son, Jude, arrived.

I class Mallorca as my home, but I have never once considered giving up my British passport and becoming a Spanish citizen. Having lived here for 35 years now, and my wife for slightly less, we could both apply for citizenship — but it’s not something we want to do. We have said to our sons that it’s entirely up to them what they decide.

My youngest, Jude — who you probably know is an aspiring footballer — said to me, “What if it comes to choosing England or Spain in football?” Now, firstly, he’ll be lucky to ever get into that position of course, but we can dream. If he ever did, I said it would be totally up to him. His choice right now is England.

He is also considering other avenues of work in case the football dream doesn’t materialise, which is something we have encouraged. Right now, he wants to go into the military or the fire service, and he would like to do that in the UK.

Working on the radio, I like to keep a keen eye on the news and particularly on things that are happening in the UK. I also listen intently to family and friends and what they have to say about the state of my country of birth. None of it right now seems to be positive.

A poll released only a few days ago from King’s College London reported that less than half of those polled (46%) felt proud of Britain, down from 56% in the past five years.

Remembrance Sunday was a couple of weeks ago — a day held annually on the second Sunday in November in the UK and other Commonwealth countries to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian service members in all wars and conflicts. It is a time for national reflection, observed with acts of remembrance such as wearing poppies, attending ceremonies, laying wreaths, and observing two minutes of silence.

My nephew William was part of the RAF band playing at the Cenotaph. I was saddened to hear Alec Penstone, aged 100, who fought in World War II and has attended several remembrance events and appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. When asked what his message was for Remembrance Sunday, he said:

“My message is, I can see in my mind’s eye those rows and rows of white stones, of all the hundreds of my friends who gave their lives. For what? The country of today? No, I’m sorry. The sacrifice wasn’t worth the result that it is now.”

Alec explained:

“What we fought for was our freedom, and even now, it’s a darn sight worse than what it was when we fought for it.”

Surely this can’t be right?