Expectations sky high (From Bournemouth Echo)

Expectations sky high

8:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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THERE’S a fair amount of gloom around, so today’s opinion column contains unremitting good news.

First is the fact that Bournemouth Airport’s splendid new terminal has been taking its first passengers in the past few days – and they’ve been loving it.

The £45 million investment programme by Manchester Airport Group in the face of the the most serious downturn in the aviation sector for decades is a massive boost for the local economy and you can read more about the new impressive new facilities in a special report in Monday’s paper.

Second, yesterday saw the launch of the third Bournemouth Air Festival in August. Once again it is set to attract more than a million visitors and prove to be the most spectacular free festival in the UK this year.

Residents and visitors will be encouraged to stay longer and enjoy more of the resort, with a whole load of additional attractions.

And finally, I had the fortune to be in London on Thursday evening to watch Fulham topple the mighty Juventus 4-1 in the Europa League. So, in the style of the Norwegian commentator whose rant after an England World Cup defeat is now legend, here’s my message to the Italians. Silvio Berlusconi, Luciano Pavarotti, Sophia Loren, Benito Mussolini, Guiseppe Verdi, Julius Caesar, Andrea Bocelli, Leonardo da Vinci. Your boys took one hell of a beating.