Construction's last word on bobsleighs, Bulgaria, bloodlines and beach BBQs

Team players

We gather AYH has been doing its bit at integrating into new parent company Arcadis through the universal language of sport. The firm sent a 17-strong team, some of whom are on display here, to battle it out for the Arcadis Wintercup in Germany. The staffers from AYH's London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow offices, only met at the airport but quickly got team-building ahead of the football and volleyball tournaments. The team performed creditably in the five-a-side football contest, coming fifth out of 14 teams taking part. It was a veritable European championship, including Arcadis staff from Holland, Czech Republic, Poland and Germany.

And the fun did not end there for the AYH crew - some of them took their lives into their hands and had a go at a 135kph ride in a four-man bobsleigh in the run at Altenberg. Is this the beginning of a future winter Olympics team?

Funnyman gets serious on property

Word reaches us that comedian, author, broadcaster, and, most famous of all, the presenter of the first QS Awards last year, Dominic Holland is branching out into property development. Funnyman Holland has teamed up with his brother, a lawyer, and snapped up some land next to a new golf course, designed by Welsh golfer Ian Woosnam, in Bulgaria. It will be developed into holiday flats. The land is also next to a ski resort called Bankso.

Holland is hoping for a surge in property prices once Bulgaria joins the European Union. He's holding a seminar next week in central London to attract investors. If you've got a spare £50k swilling around, go to www.whitefirresort.com

Keeping it out of the family

Is our noble profession's collective spirit somewhat low these days? First there was the cutting attack on QSs in the Guardian. Now a poll on our website informs us that only 39.5% of you would recommend the profession to a relative or friend. We hope this is merely seasonal affective disorder rather than a permanent glum mood.

Davis Langdon does Cannes

Something of an addition to our guide to the property schmooze-fest that is MIPIM: We understand that the place to be this year will be the beach.

Big player Davis Langdon is holding a BBQ on the sand at the event in Cannes, as is one of the big legal firms. Here's hoping for sun next week and not the usual weather for British BBQs.

Source

QS News