The older I get, the less I like middle-of-the-road. Wishy-washy. Half measures. Stuff that isn’t quite one thing or the other. Most recently this has manifested itself as a loathing of all things lukewarm, be they people (love me or hate me – just be consistent); food and drink (piping hot or properly chilled pur-lease);
Blog
Miscellaneous
From Gateway to gateway, Hong Kong to Heathrow
“No need to laugh and cry It’s a wonderful, wonderful life.” – Black Blog posted 5 days late after falling into a deep, deep sleep… Strong coffee is keeping me awake as I start this Blog in The Moodie Report’s interim Hong Kong bureau on the 10th floor of the impressive Gateway Hotel on Canton Road
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Events
From show time in Cannes to T time in Hong Kong
As I begin this Blog, I’m five hours or 4,004 kilometres out of Hong Kong, just south of my regular ‘blogspot’ Novosibirsk and north of Ust-Kamenogorsk. It’s 6a.m. in London time, 2a.m. Hong Kong time and goodness knows when Moodie time. At 35,000 feet I’m listening to the exquisite ‘silver violin’ of Nicola Benedetti as
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Miscellaneous
Top class in Tumon Bay
DFS may have suffered a stinging reverse in its efforts to retain the duty free and specialist retail concession at A.B. Won International Airport, Guam (though it is still challenging the process that led to Lotte Duty Free winning it), but the retailer continues to run a splendid and thriving downtown Galleria in nearby Tumon
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Airports
Dan to the rescue as Kangaroo catches Melbourne Airport officials on the hop
Tie me kangaroo down, sport Tie me Dan-garoo down Tie me kangaroo down, sport Tie me Dan-garoo down Melbourne Airport officials are looking into a major security incident yesterday morning when a lone male kangaroo, without a boarding card, managed to make its way into a chemist’s store on the terminal’s second floor. Sources say
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Events
Hell at Heathrow; Hafa Adai Guam
When you don’t see me Blog for a while, you just know I am very, very busy… I’ve been in Guam – still am in fact – initially attending and co-moderating the excellent ACI Asia-Pacific Small & Emergent Airports Seminar, while simultaneously working with my tremendous team in London finalising our monster Cannes print edition.
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Miscellaneous
Thirty minutes to The Heart of Cognac
Last Wednesday I took a taxi from my home in Singapore and, within a half hour, I was transported to Cognac, France, surrounded by aged oak barrels and the intense aromas of some of the finest cognacs from the House of Rémy Martin. No, this isn’t the work of some revolutionary new teleportation device (although
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People
And now I am three once more
At the precise time that I write this Blog, exactly three years ago a wonderful surgeon was hard at work performing surely one of the most onerous jobs on the planet, one where the stakes are always, just always, life and death. That day, 5 October 2010, he was busy leading a complex seven-hour operation
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Miscellaneous
All set for a FAB-ulous occasion in the land of Atlantis
From the lush greenness and mild Autumn climate of Limerick to the blazing heat of Dubai; from the Atlantic coast to a modern-day Atlantis, it’s a tale of contrast for the ever-relocating Moodie Report interim Bureau over the past few days. I’m back on the move. The image above shows the spectacular skyline looking out from
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Events
To the Manor born: Celebrating 25 years of Irish industry achievement
Welcome to The Moodie Report’s temporary Limerick Bureau. I’d love to say it’s just like home, but that would be, in Irish vernacular, a load of blarney. Above is the lovely, tranquil view from my hotel room of the beautiful grounds of Adare Manor (looking out towards a superb golf course). I’m here for Aer
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Events
Dubai Duty Free International Weekend becomes impromptu 30th anniversary celebration
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been working on a publication by our Moodie Corporate division marking the 30th anniversary of Dubai Duty Free , writes Rahul Odedra. For a newcomer to the industry such as me, it has been both fascinating and educational looking back at three remarkable decades for the company, and one
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People
Welcoming ‘Project Queenie B. Hogan’ and remembering Bronte
When the darkness comes, keep an eye on the light – whatever that is for you – no matter how far away it seems. – Jan Berry
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Events
The power, pride and passion of Dubai Duty Free
My global whirlwind tour continues with a case of ‘If it’s Sunday, this must be Dubai’. Over the past 11 days, I calculate my shocking carbon footprint stretches to 23,1771 miles. My team back at HQ have even suggested creating a travel retail version of the popular ‘Where’s Wally?’ character, called ‘Where’s Martin?’ but I have