Well what a washout Easter was! We were away, but the weather in Salou on the mainland where we were, was just as bad as it was here in Mallorca. What made it even more frustrating was the UK basking in temperatures of 25c, cue the newspapers with their “We’re hotter in Spain” headlines. 

My Easter football feast started on the Thursday where my youngest Jude was playing in a tournament in Marratxi. His team managed to win all three games and get to the final. At the end of each game they had a penalty shootout just to make sure that at the end there were 2 finalists. Out of the 9 penalties he faced he managed to save 4 making sure they went through with maximum points.

The problem was that he wasn’t going to be able to play in the final the following day as we all had to go to Salou for my eldest sons tournament. We had asked earlier if Jude had a tournament and we were told no but the club decided that his team would play at the last minute. We were a little gutted for him but there was nothing we could do. Anyway he was also looking forward to joining his elder brothers team who’ve adopted him as their third coach and mascot and he proudly sits on the bench. 

We flew to Barcelona that evening and drove to Salou. A few of things worth noting if you ever make the same journey. We booked our car online and as we have a years insurance cover for all cars we hire we booked the minimum insurance package. The guy at the counter tried to freak us out with all the jargon that we would have to pay out loads of money if there was a problem but to be honest this happens all the time and what we pay for the insurance is covered on our first car rental. Trying to get out of the car rental car park at Barcelona airport is a feat in itself as it’s not actually sign posted that well. Once on the road you need to be aware that there are tolls and they don’t tell you what you are paying beforehand so make sure you have change handy and if you don’t have any change make sure you go to a toll that gives change! We arrived in Salou and then tried to park. The authorities obviously know there’s a tournament in town as you have to pay to park in most areas and there’s a distinct lack of spaces. It took us 45 minutes to find a space that was then a 10 minute walk to the hotel.

Last week I told you what big business these football tournaments here in Mallorca are and that applies to any tournament you go to. The Mare Nostrum Cup in Salou started in 2000 and so this was it’s 19th year. 300 teams from around the World were about to compete in over 800 games of football in 3 days with over 5,500 players and supporters visiting the resort. 

Our expectations were that if we qualified out of our group it would be a great result. We had no idea of the standard of teams we were going to face so we were entering a little blind. Our first game on Friday morning was a tight affair with both teams pretty evenly matched and a 0-0 scoreline was the right result. 

We were also keen to find out how Jude’s team had got on in their final back in Mallorca. Unbelievably they managed to win 2-1 without him and won the trophy. They also gave the best goalkeeper award to Jude after his performances on Thursday. He was over the moon and so were we. The second game on Friday afternoon we were up against the supposed weakest team and we ran out deserved 3-1 winners. That meant our final game on Saturday morning would mean that the winner would qualify in first place. We would have to win as the team we were playing had scored more goals than us. Lots of nerves around amongst us parents but the boys seemed to take it in their stride. Like the first game both teams were evenly matched and it looked like we were going to draw and lose out of going through first. However in the very last minute we scored, cue ecstatic scenes on the pitch and in the stands. 

To win 2 games and draw 1 was a fantastic achievement for the team and way beyond our expectations. That meant we had a game Saturday afternoon at another ground and another unknown opponent. When we got to the stadium we noticed we were up against a team size wise bigger than us. It was a tough game and they kicked us all over the park but the boys stood firm and dug in. 

The game ended 0-0 so we were going to the dreaded penalties. I told Jake that if he was going to take one to make sure that he didn’t change his mind and hit it as hard as he could. I asked how many penalties for each team and was told 5. They scored first and we equalised 1-1, they scored their second and we equalised 2-2. Their third penalty was saved by our keeper Diego so then it was Jakes turn. As he was walking up one of the players shouted to me if he scores we’re through. What happened to the 5 penalties? It was actually 3 each and Jake could actually win it if he scored. At that point I couldn’t look, I knew he’d be devastated if he missed, so I went as far away as possible. I needn’t have worried he was as cool as a cucumber and slotted it home in the top corner 3-2! At that point I completely lost it and ran from where I was onto the pitch to celebrate with my Son and the team. Leaving an official trailing in my wake who was desperate to stop me, I made it to the celebrations. Without doubt one of the proudest and best moments I’ve had as a Dad. All was captured on film and can be seen on my Facebook page. The video has been viewed more than 2000 times and we’re still laughing and talking about it now. That meant we were through to the quarter-finals and we were going to have play another game that night. At this point the weather had deteriorated to wind and rain, so was not the best conditions for a football match. Whether or not it was the weather, tiredness or that they were playing a very good team we got gubbed 5-0, that team went onto lose in the final. The dream had ended,  but not without some great memories on the way. The boys had been brilliant and we couldn’t have wished for anything more. All I can say is if your son or daughter has a chance to go to one of these tournaments don’t hesitate to send them. Also if you have a chance to go too then go it’s great fun and good for your Spanish!

Whilst we were away Real Mallorca won 2-0 at home to move into 5th place, a play-off position and 6 points off automatic promotion. This weekend they are away to the team just below them Malaga. A point would be a good return considering Mallorca’s poor away form. Atlético Baleares won again to maintain their 7 point gap at the top of their league with 4 games to go. They are at home on Sunday against Valencia Mestalla. If they win and others around them lose they could be assured of 1st place and 2 bites of the promotion cherry. 

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, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. . 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.

Easter is open us which normally means the start of the Summer season. We’ve been open in Pirates for 2 weeks now and we are pleasantly surprised at how busy we are. If this is the sign of things to come then hopefully it will be a 

good summer. With Brexit now probably delayed until October 31st(Halloween, you couldn’t make it up!) this may relax more people to start booking holidays. 

I’m currently away in Salou where my eldest Son Jake has a football tournament. Tournaments of these type are big business and I know there are quite a few on the island at the moment. The Santa Ponsa Cup for under 10s and under 12s features teams from Manchester City, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Real Betis, Villareal and local teams from the island. This is a very well organised tournament that we went to watch a couple of years ago as it featured my friend from Ibiza Martin and his sons team. The finals attracted over a thousand people. The East Mallorca Cup is the previous named MECUP which has been transferred over from Menorca. This was the tournament my eldest played in last year and because of the problems encountered last year with the lack of hotels it has been brought over here. Menorca’s loss is Mallorca’s gain as this is a big tournament with teams from the under 15s, under 13s and under 11s age groups. Teams featured are Barcelona, Espanyol, Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Inter Milan, Schalke, lots of local teams and other teams as far and wide as Australia, Russia, Ecuador, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and India. It’s great for the local hotels, bars and restaurants with the influx of so many teams and their supporters plus an amazing opportunity for the Island to showcase itself to all these people too. If you get a chance do go and watch a few games as these are the stars of the future from different parts of the World. Professional players who have played in the tournament previously are Trent Alexander Arnold, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Neymar, Coutinho and Casemiro. 

Getting back to Easter.  Eggs have been associated with the Christian festival of Easter, which celebrates the death and resurrection of Christ, since the early days of the church. However, Christian customs connected with Easter eggs are to some extent adaptations of ancient pagan practices related to spring rites. The egg has long been a symbol of ‘fertility’, ‘rebirth’ and ‘the beginning’. In Egyptian mythology, the phoenix burns its nest to be reborn later from the egg that is left; Hindu scriptures relate that the world developed from an egg.

With the rise of Christianity in Western Europe, the church adapted many pagan customs and the egg, as a symbol of new life, came to represent the Resurrection. Some Christians regarded the egg as a symbol for the stone being rolled from the sepulchre.

The UK chocolate Easter Egg market is worth in excess of £220 million with sales growing every year as the choice of chocolate eggs in the shops expands with tempting new Easter delights being added to the range.

Cadbury Creme Egg is the most popular and over 500 million Creme Eggs are made every year with about two thirds of that number being enjoyed in the UK. 

Cadbury dominates the market with a more than 50% share and one in every three shell eggs sold is made in the Cadbury’s chocolate factory in Bournville, Birmingham.

Nothing for me beats a good old chocolate button Easter egg and hopefully I’ll be enjoying one(only one if my trainer is reading this) over the weekend. 

This is a great story and certainly brightened up my day when I read it. 

Britain’s dullest man has been voted for and was won by a man who collects beer cans. Nick West from North Somerset has over 9,000 unusual and rare tinnies and started collecting his prized possessions when he was just 16-years-old.

Others who were in the frame and apparently weren’t dull enough, which in most cases, in fact all cases isn’t true were. 

Stan Hardwick from Yorkshire collects lawnmowers and now has a 500-strong collection.

Tim Barker from Cumbria has amassed a mini army of more than 12,000 toy soldiers.

Kevin Beresford from Worcestershire is busy going round the bend – as he travels the country photographing roundabouts. Kevin, who is president of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society, uses his pics to make calendars and books.

Neil Brittlebank is an avid collector of bricks. He has over 1,000, dating back to 1892.

Archie Workman, from Cumbria, is a drain-spotter! ‘I find drain covers so interesting. There’s a lot of history behind them. It’s interesting to observe the geometry of drains and how they interconnect.” He said. 

Retired doctor Simon Barley, from the Lake District, has an unusual handsaw hobby, and is a world authority on them, having collected 1,500 handsaws, completed a PhD and authored a book on the subject.

David Morgan from the Cotswolds must find the traffic cones calming as he has the world’s largest collection.

Maths teacher Andrew Dowd, from Manchester, has added up all the train stations in England, Scotland and Wales, and visited every last one of them! It took Andrew four years and 36,000 miles of driving to complete his visit of all 2,548 stations.

Please let me know if you know of anybody duller. 

Last weekend from a sporting point of view was certainly a good one. Lots of great football as usual but the F1 and the Golf eclipsed that. Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix which made waking up early on Sunday morning slightly more bearable than having a lie in. But probably one if the greatest sporting comebacks happened on Sunday evening when Tiger Woods rolled back the years to win his first major championship since 2008. Great for us in Europe who didn’t have to stay up too late as they’d started a lot early because of worries about the weather. 

Real Mallorca snatched a last minute equaliser at Numancia to gain a vital point in their promotion push. They currently lie in 5th place with 8 games to go and have a home game today, kick-off at 20.00 at the Son Moix. Atlético Baleares cemented their place at the top of Segunda B grupo 3 after beating 4th placed Cornelia by 2-0. Top of the league 7 points clear and 5 games to go with an away game this weekend against Levante. It’s looking good for them to finish first and have 2 cracks at the play-offs. 

My eldest Jake played Friday night last week and a 1-1 draw against the team in 6th place was a pretty good result. But even better for my youngest Jude whose team won 4-0 and a clean sheet put a big smile on his and DadTaxis face. 

Wishing you all a Happy Easter and 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, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. . 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.

Did you pick the Grand National winner? A lot of us non-gamblers apparently didn’t as the odds weren’t great and we were looking for more value. Anyone who knows their horses though did as in their eyes he was a certainty. Owned by Michael O’Leary the Marmite owner of Ryanair who gave out free drinks on his flight back to Ireland. I wonder if they were still making you fit your bag into one of their baggage measures?

Last week I talked about people of a certain age not knowing what the number 1 in the charts is. Long gone are the times when it was measured by the number of single records sold. Now streaming is a huge part of the market and interestingly this week the British Phonographic Industry(BPI) has revealed the UK’s most-streamed songs based on the year they were first released, with the likes of Queen, Toto, Wham! and plenty of Christmas songs coming out on top.

The recording industry body revealed that 90 billion songs were streamed in the UK in 2018, which is an increase of 33.5% from 2017.

Queen were boosted after the release of the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ is the most-streamed song from 1978, while ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was the most-played track from the entire 1970s, leapfrogging Earth Wind & Fire’s ‘September’.

Surprisingly, some of pop and rock’s biggest artists are missing from the BPI’s list – with no entries for the Beatles, Michael Jackson, ABBA, Madonna or David Bowie.

The most streamed songs by year are (figures are 2018 streams by millions):

2018: Drake – ‘God’s Plan’ – 147.4

2017: Keala Settle/Greatest Showman cast – ‘This Is Me’ – 114.7

2016: Bruno Mars – ‘Finesse’ – 54.7

2015: Sia – ‘Cheap Thrills’ – 26.5

2014: Ed Sheeran – ‘Thinking Out Loud’ – 30.6

2013: George Ezra – ‘Budapest’ – 31.3

2012: Passenger – ‘Let Her Go’ – 22.5

2011: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – ‘Can’t Hold Us’ – 26.3

2010: Foster the People – ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ – 21.0

2009: Miley Cyrus – ‘Party In The USA’ – 18.0

2008: Jason Mraz – ‘I’m Yours’ – 26.9

2007: Arctic Monkeys- ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ – 22.7

2006: The Kooks – ‘Naive’ – 26.9

2005: Kanye West ft Jamie Foxx – ‘Gold Digger’ – 21.2

2004: Mario – ‘Let Me Love You’ – 19.0

2003: The Killers – ‘Mr Brightside’ – 46.9

2002: Eminem – ‘Lose Yourself’ – 23.6

2001: Nickelback – ‘How You Remind Me’ – 11.4

2000: Linkin Park – ‘In The End’ – 16.8

1999: TLC – ‘No Scrubs’ – 22.6

1998: Goo Goo Dolls – ‘Iris’ – 20.1

1997: The Verve – ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ – 17.5

1996: Blackstreet ft Dr Dre – ‘No Diggity’ – 17.9

1995: Oasis – ‘Wonderwall’ – 34.1

1994: Mariah Carey – ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ – 39.0

1993: The Cranberries – ‘Linger’ – 9.7

1992: Radiohead – ‘Creep’ – 10.1

1991: Nirvana – ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ – 18.6

1990: AC/DC – ‘Thunderstruck’ – 12.7

1989: The Stone Roses – ‘Waterfall’ – 8.2

1988: Tracy Chapman – ‘Fast Car’ – 14.3

1987: The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl – ‘Fairytale of New York’ – 29.4

1986: Chris Rea – ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ – 19.8

1985: Shakin’ Stevens – ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ – 21.0

1984: Wham! – ‘Last Christmas’ – 34.4

1983: Eurythmics – ‘Sweets Dream (Are Made of This)’ – 21.5

1982: Toto – ‘Africa’ – 32.1

1981: Journey – ‘Don’t Stop Believin” – 24.3

1980: Daryl Hall & John Oates – ‘You Make My Dreams’ – 24.8

1979: Paul McCartney – ‘Wonderful Christmas Time’ – 15.9

1978: Queen – ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ – 25.4

1977: ELO – ‘Mr Blue Sky’ – 26.7

1976: Fleetwood Mac – ‘Go Your Own Way’ – 20.1

1975: Queen – ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – 29.8

1974: Lynyrd Skynyrd – ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ – 14.9

1973: Elton John – ‘Step Into Christmas’ – 21.6

1972: Stevie Wonder – ‘Superstition’ – 19.5

1971: John Denver – ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’ – 16.5

1970: Elton John – ‘Your Song’ – 12.5

1969: The Jackson 5 – ‘I Want You Back’ – 20.4

1968: Otis Redding – ‘(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay’ – 11.2

1967: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ – 18.3

1966: The Rolling Stones – ‘Paint It Black’ – 9.9

1965: The Four Tops – ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ – 8.7

1964: The Temptations – ‘My Girl’ – 12.5

1963: Andy Williams – ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ – 12.3

1962: Sam Cooke – ‘Bring It On Home to Me’ – 5.1

1961: Ben E King – ‘Stand By Me’ – 16.2

1960: Etta James – ‘At Last’ – 6.8

If you not sure about streaming songs then ask your kids!

A bit worrying for me is a new survey of 1400 professions says that Radio presenters are second in the list of the most likely to be convicted for either speeding or drink driving. I’m not a big drinker but have been known to put the pedal to the metal, your honour. 

MP 21.1%

Radio Presenter 19.2%

Sales Director 18.9%

Managing Director 17.7%

Operations Director 17.4%

Bailiff 16.7%

Money Broker 16.6%

Company Chairman 16.6%

Surgeon 16.5%

Chartered Surveyor 16.3%

No game for Real Mallorca last week as the team they were playing went out of business a few weeks ago. An easy 3 points means they are in the play-off places in 6th. An away game versus Numancia this Sunday awaits and 3 points is a must against a team who are mid table. Atlético Baleares are at home to 4th placed Cornelia on Sunday. With 6 games to go they are still top by 4 points from Villareal B. Having drawn their last 2 games there’s a bit of pressure to get a win to cement that top place. 

Differing results for my 2 boys last weekend. Jude my youngest lost 5-2 and my eldest Jake drew 2-2 which was disappointing as they were 2-0 up. Let’s hope for better this weekend. Both have Easter tournaments coming up so let’s look forward to a trophy.

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, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. . 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.

As you probably know I work for Pirates Adventure and I’m really proud to say that this year I’m starting my 25th year with the Company. I can still remember the great sense of excitement when the founder and then owner of Pirates Jacques Sasson asked me if I’d like to join the business. I was a holiday Rep, Pirates was my top selling excursion and I would guide it at every opportunity. With my former experience as a Redcoat at Butlins Jacques saw the potential of me working in the show and helping with the sales. It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down and it’s been an amazing ride ever since. So many stories that I’m seriously thinking should be put into a book. Even today I still love the buzz of the new season and since the sad passing of Jacques, I have a great working relationship with his Daughter Catherine. She has driven the business to a new level and having seen this year’s show at the dress rehearsal on Wednesday I have to say this is one of the best I’ve seen. Last night was the opening night so get yourselves booked on, they open Wednesday and Friday next week. 

The inaugural Window Cleaning World Cup took place at the Cleaning Show at the Excel Centre in London a couple of weeks ago. 

Competitors were given nine litres of water and a 300mm squeegee and tasked with cleaning three office-style windows, with time penalties awarded to those who left smears.

Jeremiah Hickey from the USA beat competitors from across the globe, including Terry “Turbo” Burrows from Essex, who holds the current world record of 9.14 seconds, and Swedish champion Jimmy Strom, who came second.

Mr Hickey said he was “totally floored” by the victory. “To hear my name as the winner at the end, I was totally floored,” the 42-year-old said. “It’s different windows to what I’m used to, a different technique, so I’m really surprised.”

The competition was adjudicated by the Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC) and the Guinness World Records were also in attendance, but no new records were achieved. 

The Winners

1st Place – Jeremiah Hickey, USA, 17.02 seconds

2nd Place – Jimmy Strom, Sweden, 17.70 seconds

3rd Place, Darren Ansbro, England, 18.40 seconds

People of a certain age of which I’m certainly one couldn’t tell what song is number one in the charts at the moment. I just happen to work on a radio show so I do know that it’s currently Lewis Capaldi with the song “Someone you loved”. Now I’ve been banging on for weeks that Calvin Harris and The Rag ‘n’ Bone Man with their song called Giant should definitely be at number 1 but can’t get themselves over the line. Now I’m not for the minute saying that Lewis Capaldi’s song is rubbish far from it but there is a history of songs that didn’t get to number 1 because of songs that were in fact rubbish. I looked into it in more detail to find that some unbelievable tunes that didn’t make the top spot.

Angels by Robbie Williams could only make it to number 4, he just didn’t have the power to compete with Teletubbies say “Eh-Oh!”, which went straight in at number one on December 7th 1997. 

Wonderwall by Oasis, widely considered as one of the band’s most popular songs, peaked at number two on November 11th 1995. So what stopped them? Well, it was Robson and Jerome who were from the hit tv show Soldier Soldier with a double release of I Believe/Up On The Roof. 

Torn by Natalie Imbruglia, a song about a woman who thought she found the perfect man, only to find out he was Mr. Wrong all along. To say she is taking it hard is an understatement: she’s so upset that she ends up cold, shamed, lying naked on the floor. Released as a UK single on October 27, 1997, it went straight to number 2, where it stayed for three weeks held off by “Barbie Girl” by Aqua!

The Jean Genie by David Bowie, he may be one of the most revered figures in the music world but even David Bowie suffered his fair share of chart injustice and Jean Genie’s failure to make it to number 1 is a prime example. So who kept this legend off of the top spot? Jimmy Osmond and his Long Haired Lover from Liverpool, which stayed at number one for five weeks in 1972!

It’s the Grand National today the horse race that even non gamblers like me like to have a bet on, so how do you pick the winner? Over a third of adults pick their winner in the Grand National based on the horse’s name. So with that in mind I have to go for Captain Redbeard. The Bookie on my Radio Show gave me Rock the Kasbah and Jamie at The Winning Post in Magaluf who are open all day on Saturday to take your bets said Joe Farrell. Good luck and remember only bet what you can afford and when the fun stops, stop!

Another disappointing road trip for Real Mallorca last weekend losing 3-2 to relegation threatened Córdoba. Mallorca have the second best home record in the league, only beaten by Osasuna who are in first place. However it’s their away form that’s holding them back and they currently lie outside of the Play-offs in 7th place. This weekend it’s a home game against Reus who unfortunately have gone out of business meaning that great home form will be boosted by an automatic 3 points and if other results go their way they’ll be back into the play-offs at the end of the weekend. Atlético Baleares still lead their league by 5 points with 7 games to go after a 0-0 draw last week. This week they are away against Teruel, it’s squeaky bum time for the blancos y azules! 

My youngest Jude had a great 7-1 victory last Saturday and my eldest Jakes team were holding the third placed team Manacor to a draw only to lose 2-1 to a goal in the last 5 minutes, gutted! Let’s hope both get a win this time round. 

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, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. . 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.