After my colleague Frank Leavers revealed the news last week that I have become the MD at Pirates here in Mallorca, I have been inundated with messages of congratulations and good luck. Thanks to everyone that has contacted me, I have been blown away by the messages of support. Pirates was a favourite of mine before I joined the company. I arrived in Mallorca in 1990 as an Intasun holiday rep and Pirates was and still is the best excursion. Living and working in Magaluf meant it was my second home and I’d make sure I was always guiding on the nights that we sold it. Little did I know then that 31 years later I would be running the company. I was offered a job in 1994 by the late, great Jacques Sasson and haven’t looked back since. I am very grateful to Catherine who took over from her father when he sadly passed away. We have been friends and work colleagues for a very long time and to be honest whilst it was a little bit of a shock, it was an honour to be asked.
It’s not been an easy couple of years for all of us but for us to be able to post on social media this week that “We’re Hiring” was a sign that life is returning to normal. Since the lockdown was announced on March 13th 2020 and our opening date of April 15th this year it’s been 764 days. We managed to open just 4 days last year but I’m confident that we have a busy summer season ahead. I am pleased that I’ve got a strong and experienced management team along with a dedicated and loyal workforce behind me and together we can get back to what we do best.
I commented to my Wife the other day that I seemed to be filling up my car more frequently these days. Was there something wrong with it she asked and whist I’m an absolute duffer when it comes to cars even I knew there wasn’t. It was just that I wasn’t doing the same amount of kilometers on a tank of diesel than I was a couple of months ago. You like me may have noticed that the price of fuel is astronomical. I know it’s the same in the UK but it’s unusual to see it so high here. I thought I would visit some garages on an afternoon while my sons were football training to check out the pricing. I know, what a rock & roll lifestyle I lead but it was for research purposes to write this! What I found though was unbelievable. I visited four different ones in and around Son Fusteret in Palma. The cheapest was an Independent called Petroest situated right next to Viva Gym which was 1.44€ for diesel and 1.55€ for 95(unleaded). That was followed by Shell at 1.47€ for diesel and 1.59€ for 95, then Repsol at 1.53€ for diesel and 1.60€ for 95. The worst was Cepsa at 1.54€ for diesel and 1.66 for 95. So a 0.10€ difference per litre between the best and worst which might not seem like a lot but work it out over a year and it is. I have a Spanish friend who runs a transport company who use 1.5 million litres of fuel a year. Now they can buy it in cheaper as they buy in bulk and they have a huge tank at their depot. They were buying in diesel at 0.94€ a litre just before Christmas and now it’s 1.09€ a litre. Think what a difference that makes to their bottom line.
Most garages offer an optimum fuel as well. Does anybody use this? Does it actually help your engine? As it certainly doesn’t help your wallet, 1.74€ a litre of optima unleaded was the most expensive I found.
BP announced last week record profits of $12.85 billion, yes you read that right. Whilst the price of oil has gone up, not of course being helped by Comrade Putin flexing his judo muscles over the Ukraine. But surely energy companies must be held to account when the rest of us are paying their shareholder bonuses.
My advice is to shop around and use the independents, there’s good one called Buga on Son Bugadellas in Santa Ponsa.
What a difference 2 wins in 2 games have made to Real Mallorca. Six points clear of relegation with a game in hand. An away game this weekend against a third placed Real Betis team won’t be easy. They now have 26 points and in the last three seasons the third relegated team has gone down with 34, 36 and 37 points respectively. The key will be their 7 home games that they have left and I urge the club to carry on the fan zone before the game. The atmosphere in the last 2 games has been amazing and has definitely given the players a lift.
We walked our dog the other day in Parc de Sa Riera in Palma, which used to house Mallorca’s old stadium the Luis Sitjar. Sadly It’s hardly recognisable any more apart from the gated part on the main road. News came out last week that phase one of the American owners plans to upgrade the existing stadium looks like they’ll be passed and work can start in June. Hopefully Mallorca will still be a La Liga club at that time.
Take care everyone and enjoy your Weekend!
Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday 07.00-10am 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!
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
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