Xmas shopping weak in Funchal ; 2010 film festival ; Third swine flu death in 601 cases
Today’s Photo Thanks to Selina … Christmas 2009 lights & female father Xmas
One for the diary : "This year’s Funchal International Cinema Festival was due to take place between the 7th and 14th November, but the organisers have recently announced a change in dates and an extension to the submission deadlines. The next festival will now take place between the 10th and 17th April 2010. The event awards prizes in eight different categories with the latest festival, held in 2008, attracting an impressive international entry list". More … Funchal International Cinema Festival
Many thanks to Elaine (West) for this piece from the Jornal da Madeira :
Weak Sunday trading in Funchal : The rain scared away customers from Funchal. Yesterday, despite the shops being open, the turnout was low as far as we could see in some stores between Rua Fernão de Ornelas and Rua da Sé. During the morning, traders were still hopeful that during the afternoon things would improve. Being Sunday, families spend more time at home to rest and usually come out to the street after lunch. In fact, they went out, but the destination was the shopping centres, which were full. On the route taken by the Jornal there were one or two customers in some stores, others were empty, with shopkeepers standing looking out at the street. During the morning there were also closed stores. Some chose to open in the afternoon. In fact, after lunch the drive increased slightly but did not meet the expectations of traders. Sales have been below the expected level. To overcome the crisis, there are stores offering Christmas sales. Others are more creative and advertise that if you buy two products, the third costs only 1 Euro. In Fernão de Ornelas, traders lamented the fact that the farmers’ market is closed, as it is also a tourist attraction that brings more people to the centre of Funchal and thus more to the stores. One suggestion offered by a trader concerned parking. In his opinion, at this time of year the Anadia car park could promote discounts up to 50% for users who could provide evidence of having made purchases on that street. Supermarkets offer free parking or cheaper than existing ones in the city centre, which draws customers away from the city. The rain, however, failed to make itself felt, with only a few showers from time to time. But even then, people left the city centre streets. For the most part, they chose to spend the afternoon in the shopping centres.
This is a bit of a cheesy greeting, but I liked it XMAS WITH OUR FURRY FRIENDS
Gripe A claims third fatality : IASAÚDE identified 108 new swine flu cases in the last week. The Institute of Health has confirmed a third death on Madeira, a 63 year old man with heart disease. New cases were also identified in 26 teaching establishments. The total count for Madeira has now reached 601 victims of the H1N1 virus.
Deal reached in hotel sector – Salary scales increased by 1.2%. Bosses have agreed a one off payment of €125 as well as the percentage increase, and the deal has been left open for further review in case inflation exceeds expectations. The deal will be signed this afternoon, and removes any fear of industrial action in the sector.
European Union reduces taxes on bananas imported from the American continent. The move, which is the result of settling a long running dispute, may impact on Madeira banana producers. 11 countries in central and south America will benefit from the tax reduction.
Madeiran Cristiano Ronaldo receives the Puskas Award for the "Goal of the Year" by the widow of Ferenc Puskas, Erzsebet Puskas during the FIFA World Player Gala 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland. "Then it was time for one of this year’s innovations, with Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo appearing on screen once more as two of the ten players in the running for the FIFA Puskás Award for the most outstanding goal of 2009. Elisabeth Puskas, the wife of the late Hungarian legend, and former AC Milan star George Weah, made their way on to the stage to present the accolade, which went to Real Madrid’s Portuguese idol. Cristiano’s award-winning strike, which came when he was on duty for Manchester United in last season’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Porto, came out on top in a poll attracting the votes of over 100,000 FIFA.com users". FIFA Press Release with videos and photos Many thanks to Paul (Paul do Mar) for the information
Today’s news headlines from the front page of the Diário de Notícias :
Today’s main news headline : Madeira wants Lisbon to stick with ANAM – The regional government admits the dissolution of the company that manages the airports. The merger with ANA resolves the technical insolvency and reduces taxes to a half. The finances of ANAM (Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea da Madeira), who operate the ‘franchise’ for both Madeira and Porto Santo airports, has for a long time been in an unacceptable state, and the regional government currently has the issue ‘on top of the table’. One solution that will resolve the issue of insolvency (which is currently a paperwork status rather than a critical threat to the airports), is a merger with the airport company ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal. ANA is already has a 70% stake in ANAM, with the State holding 10%, and Madeira 20%. The concession of ANAM runs through to 2033, but it is very clear that the company cannot go the distance because of huge debt, largely incurred through the airport expansion a few years ago. There are probably more ‘money’ reasons not to merge ANAM and ANA than to do so, but in my opinion this merger would have so many benefits for Madeira and it’s residents. If airport taxes were halved, and they are currently amongst the highest in Europe, you can imagine the benefits for tourism. Also, as we are so dependent on air transport, that integration into a much larger structure would give us resources and contingencies for continuity of operation that we don’t really have at the moment.
Justice officials sue the State – Workers in the Porto Santo Court want two subsidies. A bit of a boring story really (but as I read it I will continue), as the six workers in the ‘Tribunal do Porto Santo’ try to achieve the same rights and conditions as their counterparts in the court in Santa Maria, in the Azores. The main issue is the lack of receipt of a residency allowance, equivalent to one third of a salary, and an accommodation allowance, that is based on the grounds of "double insularity", being distanced firstly from Madeira, and secondly the justice system of Portugal itself. The subsidies are intended to compensate those entitled to them for the additional costs of their placement in ‘outermost regions’. Why do people take these jobs on known terms and conditions, and then complain when the ‘grass is greener on the other side’. I suppose it’s a typical public servant mentality. I think all people who live outside Funchal should be entitled to state insularity subsidies … but how do I apply?
Victim of skid eventually dies.
Complaint of the Diário debated today in São Bento. The regulatory entity for Social Communication goes to the Lisbon parliament, at the request of the PP. The support of the government for newspapers is on the agenda.
Nearly 100 thousand launches in the year end firework display – More fireworks than in the Guiness Book of Records. The Macedo pyrotechnic team is already on Madeira preparing the year end firework display. The first 8 minutes of 2010 will see the skies of Funchal alive with light and colour. The company given the contract for the firework display, Macedo’s Pirotecnia, has been at work since the 15th December preparing the show. The display named ‘Ilhas Afortunadas’ (Happy / Fortunate / Lucky Islands … take your pick) will see the launching of 97,172 individual fireworks, a far superior number than the 66,326 in the 2006 new year display which earned Madeira the title of host of the biggest firework display in the world in the Guiness ‘book’ of records. 17 tonnes of fireworks will be distributed around 40 launching points, including one on Porto Santo. I wonder if the vast increase is a response to the third attempt recently somewhere in the Arabic world to try and break Madeira’s record? A record worth reinforcing or resetting for sure, as what better endorsement could a company specialising in firework displays want. For the sake of 3,000 more fireworks you have to wonder why they didn’t go through the 100,000 mark, a number that everyone would remember.
Football gets the lion’s share of today’s front page, with a photo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo holding their new FIFA awards : Best goal of 2009 is Madeiran – Messi followed Ronaldo as ‘best in the world’ yesterday, but the Madeiran, elected for the dream ‘eleven’ team, won a trophy for the goal scored against FC Porto, in the stadium ‘Dragão’. And what a goal it was, knocking Porto out of the Champions league! More from the link provided by Paul above.
If anyone else can oblige with the translation of any of the ‘blank’ or sparsely filled headlines, or other news stories, here is the link Thank you in anticipation.
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Easyjet reported as not being able to fly people whose travel had been cancelled, any earlier than the next empty seat on a flight.
This means, in better english, that many people will not make their christmas travel destination until the new year.
Travellers can get a refund which of course will never cover the cost of a replacement ticket for travel at peak time.
Once again –hard cheese to its customers when a cheap airline has problems.
Passengers come a poor second to profit margin.
I wish the John Lewis Partnership ran an airline to Madeira.
“Never Knowingly Undersold” and cracking customer service.
Better service comes with proper attitudes.
They manage to make profits and pay staff performance bonus year in, year out
and grow considerably as a consequence.
Perhaps the low cost airlines could learn a lot from the Partnership.
1But if Easyjet don’t have empty seats Martin, what else can they do. Or is there more to this story (that I haven’t seen) than meets the eye?
2Looks like Ronaldos about to snog pat Butcher (Eastenders) lol lol.
Raining here again….
3The way I understand the press Der, is that if you flight is cancelled because of snow, you will receive a refund.
fair enough you say.
You have to buy a new ticket for another flight.
Except that you may have bought the original ticket for –say £30.00.
Refund £30.00.
Very fair except that you will have to pay a premium price–say £250.00 for the new ticket ‘cos easyjet are very busy.
You cannot have a replacement seat at the special price you may have paid having booked up months earlier.
I reckon easyjet should find you the next available seat at the same cheap price.
Otherwise easyjet would always welcome disrupted services, their margins would improve.
4I see your point Martin .. quite right
5I think you are being a bit harsh on Easyjet, Martin.
If it wasn’t for the weather conditions and effects at the airports, there would be no problem. It is understandable that in the circumstances,with a few seats left and high demand, prices go up for those seats. The same thing happened with other airlines around the time of the proposed BA strike.
We have benefited from the cheap flights, coming in and out of Madeira several times a year. The flights and service have always been good and we like the ‘no frills’ approach for these shorter flights. Also, Easyjet does not seem to appear quite as cost-cutting as Ryanair ( though I have never flown with this carrier)
I know that if we were caught up in the delays, cancellations etc. we would not be feeling very happy but the airlines are not responsible for the weather conditions.
Happy Xmas and Best Wishes for 2010 to Der, Elaine and all blog readers.
6Thank you for your seasonal felicitations Eiryl.
7I’m sorry to have to disagree with you over easyjet.
easy jet are not responsible for snow–agreed.
They have had money from their passengers all year–agreed.
Passengers have had cheap flights, not out the goodness of easyjet’s heart, but by them leaving out the so called essential ‘frills’ their competitors leave in and so to create a commercial advantage.
So attracting more of the poorer passenger who would not have been able to fly otherwise.
The value of that custom is shown clearly to those passengers when “difficulties” arise.
“No frills service” includes within the phrase the word “service”
Charging passengers full rate for rebooking a cancelled flight–whoever’s fault it was– shows scant regard for their customers.
They should keep the price for the new booking exactly the same as the price that was paid for the cancelled one.
Taking price advantage this way is patently unfair.
Their customers tend to be poorer than average and can’t afford travel alternatives or this steep price hike.
easyjet may put on flights christmas day to catch up–full price each seat– it goes without saying!
The commissioners at the EC should look carefully at this situation.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Martin, that if anything is thought to be illegal the situation needs to be looked at and put right.
I would just prefer to have the availability of a no frills airline to get me back and forth to Madeira. Easyjet are a business and are not flying anybody anywhere through the goodness of their heart.
We have been travelling to Funchal for years and I well remember the airlines’prices in the past and the hike in prices at peak times. At least with Eayjet we have the opportunity to buy seats very cheaply, especially when they first come on sale. I am happy with their service overall.
8Hi there and greetings from Atlanta USA. Do you know if anyone in Madeira will be streaming (likely a novice as opposed to network) live the fireworks over Funchal on December 31, 2009? Would love to pick it up via the Internet and watch from America.
Thanks much,
bob
9Just appeared on the Diário website …
Civil protection emits warning about rain and strong winds – The alert continues until Christmas eve. Strong and very strong winds from the Southwest will hit Madeira, with gusts up to 130 km / hour in high places. Rain and heavy downpours are also forecasted, with the conditions for thunderstorms. The warning is given not to venture into high and exposed areas on foot or by car, and to be aware of the potential for some flooding, rock falls, and landslides.
10The storm is very bad , and lots of lightening and thunder, it seems very slow moving as Nelio said its been like it all afternoon in Funchal.
Yet again it will affect the airport when it reaches that way.
once this huge system clears, which could take 3-4 days , it looks like it could settle down a bit , lets hope so, have to feel sorry for all the tourists who have come to enjoy christmas.
11We feel sorry for all the tourists tourists spending Christmas in Madeira this year, and particularly for our Clients, and can only hope that weather improves soon.
It could still be a great Silvester Evening next week.
To all of you, a Happy New Year
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