- Publisher: Roqueta Magazine
- Editor: Duncan Frazer
- Edition: 323
- Published: 15th November 2017
What a mixed year it has been on the local, national and international stage. Monarch, terrorism, threats of bombs and wars, Catalonia. Oh, and lest I forget, Brexit of course.
Why can’t we all take ve and have a think about solutions to it all please?
On Menorca, however, it seems that business has had a good year. Most people say quietly that they have been busy and hopefully made some money. The island seemed to cope in the main season, and although the crowds and the parking infuriate some who are residents here, made worse of course by the very high temperatures this summer, we all know deep down that is a good thing. We want the facilities and investment that come with tourism, but for the island to continue to remain seemingly unspoilt.
Running the magazine with eight editions a year means that you completely lose track of where you are as far as time of year. You are talking Christmas in July, one edition runs into the next, what article appeared when. It is all a bit of a blur as it is busy. But we love it, and thanks to everyone out there for your feedback and support. We have a great community here on the island and we are really just beginning to understand it and be accepted (we hope!).
We really liked the Halloween section of the October edition, so we are doing something similar in the December edition, grouping a range of different articles together. It also allows the design team to get creative, and it is important we keep them happy of course.
We have a number of one to one interviews too in this edition. One with Santa Claus (groan), one with the Reverend Paul (Ho Ho Ho) and one with Amanda Prowse. She is an author, loves Menorca, and is a frequent visitor to the island. She has sold over two and half million of her books in ve years (Wow).
We have a Reader Christmas wine tasting for you to come to. It is free to attend, and Michael Stevenson has chosen wines for us to taste that are perfect for the big day. It is on Thursday 7 December in Mahón. Contact angie@roquetamagazine. com to confirm your place on the sleigh.
What else? A listing of restaurants that may be open over the winter period (subject to the owner going on holiday at short notice), and the usual favourites of Island News and What’s On. Local News as we now term it is covered too. We think the magazine has something interesting for everyone and would be a great present to and under the Christmas tree.
Apart from all the humanitarian wishes, if I had one for the island it would be that the airlines and fights are sorted quickly. It is one of the biggest hurdles we face. Those who live here are almost prisoners now for the winter as fares shoot up in price. And for those who want to come and visit outside of the peak period, it is too complicated and expensive. Come on chaps, please get around the table and thrash out a deal.
Thanks to all the advertisers for your incredible support this year, to the contributors with whom we have had fun and of course to all you readers. The magazine is yours, so make sure you keep letting us know where we can improve or add.
So, from Angie and Duncan, can we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in April. Next edition April the first – sounds ominous.