Winter!

November has snuck up on us. We seem to have missed out autumn and gone from summer straight into winter. It snowed up in the mountains last week and it has rained incessantly on the island in a way that I haven’t seen in a long time. So much so that my eldest Jake had his game called off last Sunday because of a waterlogged pitch! I thought 3G pitches could pretty much beat any weather but not that rainfall which went through Saturday and into Sunday. All my UK football friends found it quite amusing and couldn’t quite believe that a match on a 3G pitch in Mallorca could be called off. So you readers in the UK who think major investment in 3G pitches will cure your winter cancellation problems, think again! Gone are my mocking pictures of me on a sunbed drinking a nice cold beer which I know I was posting this time last year. 

With the so called winter upon us we see Mallorca going back into hibernation until next March. I’ll be interested to see how well the new Melia hotel does in Magaluf in the winter. I walk past it every day to get to work on the radio so I’ll keep you updated. They have to be praised as somebody needed to take the plunge and see if it is, to use the Government slogan “Better in Winter”. Hopefully it works and it encourages more hotels to open next winter. I noticed that Jet 2 are bringing in more flights so the infrastructure is there now all it needs is the people. The weather of course won’t help and the island still struggles for things to do when the sun isn’t shining. 

Monday is the start of the World Travel Market in the Excel Centre in London aka a good old jolly up. It’s where the great and the good gather to do tourism “business”. Most people who work in the industry will tell you its more of a party where some business might get done. Which in truth could have been done on the phone. I’m always interested to know what our Balearic message is to the World and to be honest with you I still don’t know. Last year the government were trying to play down the rise in the Tourist Tax and the hoteliers were sticking to their prices despite being told that they were pricing themselves out of the market. So what’s this year’s message? Well it looks like the banning of the all-inclusive is off the table for now. This political hot potato seems to be off for the moment as the government apparently don’t want to feel the wrath of the hoteliers pre-elections which are next May. It never was on the agenda for 2019 as hotel and tour operator contracts had already been signed. But I’m sure questions will be asked about it for 2020. Despite what you hear from Government it hasn’t been a great season. Speak to the people on the ground in shops, bars, restaurants, taxis and excursions and they’ll tell a different and slightly more truthful story. Our biggest industry is struggling and needs investment, whilst I agree money for health and education is needed. We have to realise that these people won’t just fall into our lap like maybe it did before. I await to hear the news from the World Travel Party, sorry Market.  

Now an industry that is thriving particularly in the Uk is the music one. 

Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Harry Styles are among the leading stars who were responsible for British music achieving a record year in 2017.

A new report by UK music reveals that revenues reached a new high of £2.6billion in 2017, growing a healthy 7% on the year previously.

The biggest selling UK record of the year was Ed Sheeran’s ‘Divide’, while Rag ’n’ Bone Man’s ‘Human’ followed in fourth spot, chased by Sam Smith’s second album in fifth.

There was also an appearance from Harry Styles, who secured ninth spot with his debut album.

Dua Lipa, meanwhile, collaborated to the success after becoming the most streamed female star of 2017 on Spotify – beating Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

Elsewhere, festivals and live tours still proved to be big business – with shows by Coldplay, The Rolling Stones securing a staggering £1billion.

Millions of Brits admit they’re ‘brand snobs’ and are happy to pay a premium for a label, according to research.

Despite loving the idea of bagging a bargain, 54% of consumers are still prepared to fork out the extra cash for a well-known brand.

It also emerged more than a third of those polled admit to feeling pride when showing off items from a brand they like.

Top 10 most popular brands bought for the name are;

1. Costa

2. Cadbury’s

3. Apple

4. Samsung

5. Coca-Cola

6. Heinz

7. Amazon

8. Adidas

9. Marks and Spencer

10. Kellogg’s

A new study has revealed the football teams with the best and worst fans who make the best lovers! Now when i announced this on radio last week I was accused of writing it myself. Mainly because Arsenal fans were voted the best and before you ask the accusation didn’t come from my Wife!

The Worst….

1.     Manchester United 

2.     Newcastle United 

3.     Cardiff City

4.     Crystal Palace 

5.     Chelsea 

And the Best….

1.     Arsenal 

2.     Leicester City

3.     Brighton & Hove Albion

4.     Southampton 

5.     Liverpool 

Real Mallorca fought back from being 2-0 down after 10 minutes to earn a 2-2 home draw with Las Palmas last weekend. Midweek saw their reserves lose 1-2 at home in the 1st leg of the Copa Del Rey against La Liga side Valladolid. The second leg takes place on the 5th of December. This weekend they are away at Real Oviedo, kick-off at 16.00 Sunday.

As you read above my eldest son Jake had his game called off last Sunday against top of the league Atlético Baleares. The game was rearranged for Thursday and they got gubbed 4-0. He has another game this Sunday in Sa Pobla. Now this Sunday happens to be my birthday and we will have to be there at 8.45 for a 10am kick-off. Which means leaving the house at 7.45 which on a Sunday is bad enough but on your birthday!

My youngest played Real Mallorca last night and at the time of writing I can’t tell you the result. All I can say is that he’s excited as hell to play on their training pitch.

Enjoy Your Weekend!

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday 07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at www.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone, Android, The Tunein Radio App and on the Spanish TDT TV service. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance! 

Feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com