Ellandi Blog

99P in Nailsea Makes it a Full House for Ellandi

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

We have just completed a letting to 99p in Nailsea which means that this burgeoning national retailer is now a tenant in all six Ellandi schemes.

Retail Property Rocks

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Tristan and Ellandi complete £35m Eastleigh purchase

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Tristan Capital Partners and Ellandi have completed the purchase of the Swan Centre in Eastleigh, Hampshire, for around £35m.

Tristan, Ellandi acquire UK mall

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Pan-European real estate fund manager Tristan Capital Partners and Ellandi, a niche investment manager, have jointly acquired the Swan Centre in the English town of Eastleigh.

Tristan/Ellandi Coalition Triumph in Eastleigh

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

CCP III, a fund advised by Tristan Capital Partners, has acquire the Swan Centre in Eastleigh, Hampshire, from PRUPIM. Ellandi will partner Tristan again on what will be its third UK shopping centre acquisition for the fund.

Works starts on Walnuts retail and leisure extension

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi and Miller Developments have started work on a 50,000 sq ft extension to the Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington.

M&S – the next Woolworths?

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It is continuously quoted that retail is a dynamic and competitive industry and that every brand has to invest and evolve to maintain its success. Equally it is a well-rehearsed argument that most of the retail failures – Woolworths, HMV, Jessops, Comet etc. failed to keep pace and it was their failing business as much as the financial crisis that lead to their failure. It seems no one is repeating this manta loudly at M&S.

Demolition of Orpington job centre marks the start of £10 million upgrade of The Walnuts

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The start of February saw the first stage of The Walnuts upgrade begin with the demolition of the former Orpington Job Centre at Crown House. The Walnuts Centre which is owned by Ellandi, Miller Developments and Metropolitan Estates was granted planning permission for the £10 million scheme in Autumn 2012.

Operation New Dawn

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Despite approaching the half century milestone, I still sought that buzz you get from the chase and kill, even if the heart now tends to beat faster than it should. As an avid follower of Jack Reacher,...

Case for Out of Town is Out of Proportion

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

In the latest instalment of our battle against innapropriate OOT development Ellandi responded to Accessible Retail's open letter to Property Week

Children of Chatham

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Property Week acknowledges Ellandi's emotional connection to new asset management appointment.

Diginius Opens Development Office in Ellandi owned Colston Tower, Bristol

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

London based Diginius opens a development and client services office in Colston Tower

St Actually-Quite-Nice

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ten reasons to love St Austell, home to Ellandi's White River Place shopping centre. Local resident Sarah Drew provides 10 excellent reasons why St Austell is a great place to live. She includes Live Music at the Eden Cafe,...

Cheap Parking gets Shoppers Flocking

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi judgement call on St Austell car park charges sees November vehicle numbers increase by 32 per cent on the previous years.

Out of Town Deserves Better

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Accessible Retail have written an open letter to Property Week (11/1/13) in response to our missive in conjunction with 9 other town centre investors, the letter in full below, a response to come!

In Town v Out of Town Redux

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We are involved in a number of high profile battles with out of town developers and it is always the same main arguements that come up.

Pickles calls in plans for vast out-of-town retail development

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Secretary of State Eric Pickles has called in a controversial planning application for a 465,000 sq ft out-of-town retail and leisure development at Rushden Lakes, in Northamptonshire.

Pudsey scales dizzying heights of BT Tower

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Around 80 property and retail experts enjoyed a high-altitude charitable flourish this week, involving a plastic Harley Davidson, acrobatic flights and spas – all lots in an auction, all in the company of a cuddly yellow bear.

Social Wall Wows Retail Property Investors

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

London-based digital communications agency D2 Interactive (http://d2i.co/) introduces an innovative online tool for harnessing the power of the social media in commercial property portfolio management. Dan Drogman, the company’s...

Social Media Wall Wows Retail Property Investors

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi's innovative "Social Wall" gains recognition!

Why I fecking love this job (sometimes)

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Can I introduce you to Sheila? She’s a Nailsea local who is passionate about arts and crafts. She approached us a couple of years ago to ask if she could use a couple of our...

Brand specialists 'Reach' for the stars

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

CBRE lets 2000sq ft of office space at the Ellandi owned Colston Tower.

We Look After our Shoppers

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We have just completed a total refurbishment of the public toilet facilities at the Grays Shopping Centre. The toilets had not been updated since the shopping centre originally opened over 25 years ago! They have been completely...

Out of town and out of control

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Landlords hit back at developers on their doorsteps.

£10m Nailsea Town Centre Facelift Revealed

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi is proud to announce that the Nailsea based Crown Glass Place will soon be benefiting from a £10m revamp.

Ellandi doubles up with Kent shopping centre buy

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A consortium of Ellandi, Miller Developments and a group of Middle Eastern investors advised by WW Advisors, has bought the Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington, Kent, for £20m - an 8% yield.

New Retailer Selects Kettering

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

National Fashion brand Select is to open in Kettering in time for Christmas

King Canute is alive and well in the Property Market

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The tide may be more powerful than market forces but vendors and banks have to accept that they can not dictate or change market prices. Overcoming this denial is a critical step to returning to a normalised market.

Kettering Welcomes Comtemporary Art Pop Up

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Inside Out sets up Pop Up Store in Kettering’s Newland Centre

Petty Party Politics Trumps Portas?

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In a bizarre twist of fate, Team Ellandi where in the House of Commons, as Peter Bone, MP for East Northamptonshire leapt to his feet like an excited schoolboy.......OK, there's a bi-election in Corby, that the government is...

Stargazing

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A first look at 2013

Review: Mother Mash

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi's resident foodie reviews local restaurants perfect for Business Lunches.

"Politicians' fears for high streets are just hollow words" - Simon Jenkins

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Somewhat strange for an owner and operator of Shopping Centres to sympathise with an anti-shopping centre article but Simon Jenkins writing in the Evening Standard last night makes some good points

Colston Tower Marks the Spot

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi is pleased to announce that it has completed on a five year lease with Atlas Services Group at the Bristol based Colston Tower office block.

Distressed Town Centre Task Force

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Another committee has been established to try and tackle the decline of town centres in the UK. Although this is to be welcomed, surely it would be more constructive if the Government also implementing the recommendations of the Mary Portas report. Is this simply a case of kicking the can down the road?

We Select Our Favourite Shop Fit

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We're delighted with the number of our retailers who have continued to re-invest in their portfolio despite the difficult times, but we believe Select have taken it to a whole new level in Grays.

View From The Top

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ric Lewis gives his own view of why the world probably isn't going to come to an end and the joys of working with Ellandi!

Ellandi's High Street Heros

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The death of the High Street makes headline grabbing and grim reading; it certainly reflects the most challenging leasing environmentssince the early 90's, but is it all doom and gloom.....?

Problems Funding Our Latest Acquisition

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Despite Morgan's market leading ability to raise debt finance on almost any asset we fancy, he has been struggling with the latest shopping centre Mike and I see merit in acquiring.Revisiting the photographs I took...

St Austell Leading by Example

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last week I was invited to speak at a seminar hosted by the National Retail Planning Forum and Action for Market Towns. The topic was Making Small Beautiful. Basically, how can small town and communities that make up the fabric of British society be protected?

Is planning going back to the future?

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

I am not a town planner but I respect the aims of planning laws – so why aren’t they being applied? If the rules go out of the window what does the future hold?

Radio Cornwall Coverage of Our Car Park Charge "Bonanza"

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Being desperately keen to get the message out about us slashing the parking charges in St Austell, Ellandi's resident rent-a-gob was interview by BBC Radio Cornwall. Despite being described as sounding on the radio like "...

We Halved the Cost of Parking In St Austell- Will The Public Respond?

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The cost of parking is a very emotive issue in all town centres and has been consistently sighted as a major reason for many of the problems of St Austell town centre.So we've put our money where our mouth is and as soon as was...

When perception becomes more important than price

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We are in funny old times in the Commercial Property Market. Conventional wisdom dictates that any active investor is a buyer at the right price. Rational economic theory says that if an investment will yield an acceptable return for...

New Toilets and Breastfeeding Lounge for Newlands

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the comprehensive redevelopment of the toilets and surrounding area within the Newlands Shopping Centre, Kettering. The project which is due to commence shortly by local firm Wrightmans Construction,...

Winners and Losers

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Followers of the Ellandi blog (there are a few of you) will know that we have said a number of times that the tough retail environment is exposing those with the weakest businesses rather than crippling all retailers in the same way.

Colston Tower Union Flag

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There has been an understandable furore around the removal of a large Union Flag that was erected on Colston Tower.Our official comment is as follows:"We were not aware of the story involving the Union Flag until it...

Ahead in The Cloud

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We are genuinely delighted that in conjunction with The Cloud (www.thecloud.net) that we are bringing completely free WiFi to Nailsea, Grays, Kettering, St Austell and Orpington. Yes, that's...

Politics and Property III

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:06:07 GMT

Many thanks to Henry "Tory Boy" Godsall for highlighting the legendary Steven "Shagger" Norris, former MP, Property Week columnist and, appropriately enough, Chairman of Soho Estates. Steven wins a bonus point for having a son who is a...

Politics and Property II

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:44:32 GMT

Thanks to Matt, we now have increased the regular blog follwers by 33%!So to celebrate, I have peeled myself of a very hot sunlounger (45 c) to write a follow-up to my last post.Whilst writing the last one, it did...

Politics and Property

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:26:18 GMT

As all three of the regular followers of this blog will have noted, that, as a callow youth (and to be fair far more recently,) I had certain left-wing leaning persuasions.Oh hell, lets be frank, I was a member of the Labour...

Fame at Last For Stuart and Neil (Kettering's Odd Couple)

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:54:51 GMT

Our partnership with www.My-Loyalty-Card.com in Kettering recently received great coverage from BBC local news.www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-19096332Stuart toned down his usual shirt tie combination...

Olympic Picnic With Strutt and Parker

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fueled by the Olympic spirit, lobster and a not inconsiderable amount of rose, guests at Strutt and Parker’s annual picnic staged an impromptu javelin competition.

Olympic Picnic With Strutt and Parker

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:07:11 GMT

Ellandi Value and Convenience Conference

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It’s been a couple of weeks since we hosted our inaugural conference and cocktail party; it was attended by over 130 of the country’s leading players in the retail property market at RIBA in Central London.

Ellandi Poaches Westfield (*) Head of Finance

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:13:59 GMT

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a new Head of Finance (20120702_ellandi_press-release_ben-truman2).Ben...

Lone Star sells £45m Project Royal loan to Tristan and Ellandi

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Lone Star has sold a nominally-valued £44.6m Project Royal loan secured by a retail-led mixed-use scheme in Cornwall to a Tristan Capital and Ellandi joint venture, reflecting a wholesale-to-retail loan portfolio unwinding strategy.

Ellandi’s White River raft

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi and Tristan Capital Partners have completed one of the first significant purchases from the £900m loan portfolio sold by Lloyds Banking Group last December.

Superdroop?

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 17:13:15 GMT

We recently hosted one of our 6 monthly agents lunches with our most trusted, if not necessarily most trust-worthy, advisors. We always take a “hostage to fortune” poll to see what the...

Superdroop?

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We recently hosted one of our 6 monthly agents lunches with our most trusted, if not necessarily most trust-worthy, advisors.

Retailers see value and convenience in attending Ellandi conference

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Property conferences are a fairly common occurrence these days, but one event later this month is likely to be better attended than most, given the current state of the retail sector.

Loyalty Card Launch in Grays

Mon, 28 May 2012 22:12:48 GMT

In line with our schemes in Kettering and Orpington we are delighted to announce the successful launch of the Grays loyalty card.Its all about keeping it local.

Ellandi Retail Conference - 25th June

Mon, 28 May 2012 19:54:20 GMT

We're delighted to announce a superb line up for the the inaugural Ellandi Retail Conference and Cocktail Party at RIBA in Central London in late June.The focus is unashamedly on the positive news around Value and Convenience...

Loyalty Card Launch in Grays

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In line with our schemes in Kettering and Orpington we are delighted to announce the successful launch of the Grays loyalty card.

Ellandi Retail Conference – 25th June

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We’re delighted to announce a superb line up for the the inaugural Ellandi Retail Conference and Cocktail Party at RIBA in Central London in late June.

More Banker Al Bashar(ing)

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:46:43 GMT

I was delighted to read over my Cheerios that according to De Montford University (Leicester Poly to most,) the

British Land's - mucky little secret?

Tue, 22 May 2012 10:12:20 GMT

Since his arrival at BL Chris Griggs has been very vocal in explaining that BL owns "prime" real estate. Their results yesterday, continued on this...

Retailing: Today There Are Winners Too

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:47:45 GMT

Mike and I spent a pleasant day in Scotland last week, trying to spread the gospel that not all secondary retail property is tertiary and that the secret (OK hardly secret) to making decent returns in retail property over the medium term...

Mark Comes Out as a Twit(errer)

Sat, 12 May 2012 14:51:37 GMT

Despite being largely hopeless at managing to keep on top of the blog, I have joined the growing army of twats twitterers (@ellandi_mark). The reason given to Mrs R is that I needs to...

Mark Comes Out as a Twit(errer)

Sat, 12 May 2012 14:51:37 GMT

Despite being largely hopeless at managing to keep on top of the blog, I have joined the growing army of twats twitterers (@ellandi_mark). The reason given to Mrs R is that I needs to...

Location, Luck and Timing

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:01:23 GMT

As I have blogged before, the above triptych is more relevant than location, location, location when it comes to the most important three things in assessing a property opportunity.In respect of Timing, I read a couple of...

Honest View of NewBuy Scheme

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:09:36 GMT

For a satirical website, the Daily Mash do economics well.

Bright Spark at Grays

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:39:30 GMT

Doing our bit for society and the environment, Grays is the first of our shopping centre's to set the sparks flying and install solar panels.

Bill Gross seems to agree with me....

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:27:51 GMT

Followers of the Blog may have read that I am fearful of little or no market activity, a side effect of QE and ultra-low interest rates. Reading Bill Gross of PIMCO, demi-god amongst fixed income investors in this morning's FT, he seems to...

Team Kettering is a 'cut' above the rest....

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:02:39 GMT

Ellandi hosted a, belated (and slightly alternative), celebration of acquiring the Newlands Centre in Kettering at the Ginger Pig Butchers.Should you trust a group of surveyors, lawyers and general property...

A willing buyer and a willing seller?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:33:18 GMT

The whole basis of the capitalist economic system is that there will be willing buyers and willing sellers. Demand and supply will see prices adjust until a price equilibrium is reached at which point buyers and seller...

A new year, a new addition

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:27:10 GMT

We are delighted to be building the Ellandi team further with the addition of Jaya Sabnani.\r\nJaya graduated from The University of Westminster in 2008 with a BSc in Urban Estate Management. She has...

Part II (read Part I first)

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:25:41 GMT

In 1994 Thomas Neal's Yard Shopping Centre in Covent Garden was pretty much completely vacant, save for a restaurant in the basement.I hired the entire shopping centre for my 23rd birthday party one saturday night....

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life... (Part I)

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:54:09 GMT

One of the few advantages of being middle aged is that you are old enough to know stuff, but not too old to start forgetting it (despite the havoc that a property lifestyle can have on your brain cells.)So as matters lurch from...

Happy 2012

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:47:53 GMT

Happy New Year from all at Ellandi\r\n

2012 Reasons to Be Cheerful

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:49:56 GMT

Well obviously not two thousand and twelve reasons to be cheerful, as due to my black, misanthropic, heart and frankly the need to look after the kids, I will limit my musing to just twelve sunshine-filled, positive thoughts for the New...

If only banks were run like football clubs? (Surely some mistake?!)

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:16:59 GMT

At long last the powers that be have taken decisive action to head of a certain catastrophe.No I don't mean the co-ordinated actions of the central banks to provide unlimited dollar liquidity silly, no, Sunderland have sacked...

Rugby

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:52:15 GMT

I don't really want to talk about it!All the genuine messages of support and condolence from the English are nice but can you all stop mentioning it now, please.Front page of the Western Mail sum's it up perfectly.

Ex-Banker Turns Bank-Basher

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:43:37 GMT

Not for the first time Morgan has today been described as punchy.However this was not in respect of an altercation late at a rugby dinner, but in respect of his pulls-no-punches article in

Average Height of Ellandi Increased. Considerably.

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:00:41 GMT

We are genuinely delighted to welcome Mike Wimble to the team who is joining us from Cushman and Wakefiled Investors. He has a lifetime of retail property experience that started agency, like Mark he is one of a select few who worked for...

Nailsea Bucks the Retail Trend

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:52:21 GMT

Look Mervyn it's not all doom and gloom out there we've just concluded our 17th letting/lease renewal in Nailsea, and its a good one too.We have managed to secure a letting to WH Smiths to the town that will help lift the town...

Ellandi and Miller Developments buy £20m Kent mall with development play

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ellandi has teamed up with Miller Developments and Middle Eastern investors advised by WW Advisors, to buy the Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington, Kent, for a price thought to be around £20m.

Ellandi Opinions Go National

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 09:02:48 GMT

My seven year old daughter was sooooooo impressed that Daddy was in a national newspaper, for the right reasons this time:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/store-wars-high-street-shops-call-for-...

Tristan teams up with Ellandi

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Duo form £150m venture to invest in secondary malls

Ellandi/Curzon buy Newlands shopping centre

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A joint venture between Ellandi Property and Curzon Capital Partners III, a fund managed by Tristan Capital Partners, has completed on the purchase of the Newlands Shopping Centre in Kettering for £32.5m – a net initial yield of 8.5%.

Ellandi tuck into Special K

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:24:12 GMT

Ellandi and Curzon Capital Partners III, a fund managed by Tristan Capital Partners have acquired the Newlands Shopping Centre in Kettering.\r\nThe acquisition is the first acquisition...

Postcards from the edge

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:37:43 GMT

I've just come back from a spot of credit crunch tourism in the former hedge fund better known as Iceland. Despite effectively going bankrupt in 2008 with debts that reached a staggering 850%...

When failure is a good thing....

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:49:18 GMT

An amusing retail anecdote, not many of these around these days.Best Buy - the American electronic giant intending to take the UK by storm. They are rolling out their own distinctive store format of a huge blue box with a...

I'll Drink to That, Or Maybe Not

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:20:22 GMT

We've clearly have been a little remiss in respect of blogging, frankly we've been a bit busy. As a result though, in the next few days Ellandi should exchange contracts on a couple of more deals which will take our tally in a couple of...

DevSecs/Ellandi buys in Bristol

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Development Securities and Ellandi have bought Colston Tower in Bristol for £7.6m, a 10.08% yield.

DevSecs and Ellandi buy Bristol office tower

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Development Securities and Ellandi have bought a Bristol office tower for £7.6m, a 10% yield.

A Brace With DevSec

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 09:44:13 GMT

We're delighted to announce that we have exchanged contracts this week to acquire a landmark, mixed-use, building in Bristol in a second deal with our partners Development Securities plc.Colston Tower is a building well known...

Imported Inflation?

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:23:48 GMT

I am a glorified retail agent, Mervyn King is a lauded central banker.Inflation in the UK is temporary and beyond our control, according to one of us.However, Sterling has fallen by over 25% against its trade...

One Morgan Garfield, There's Only One Morgan Garfield*...

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:24:22 GMT

As I have previously referenced, retail is detail and I can assure you that hours were spent getting the shopping bag design of our ellandi-have-moved flyer meticulously correct.

A Good Face For Radio

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:11:28 GMT

I fear that I may have been drunk at 7.15 on Thursday morning. Frankly its the way I can rationalise the fact that George Osborne seemed to come across quite well on Radio 5. That being said, its usually the sight of the smug, chinless,...

20 Days To Do What Exactly?

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:48:10 GMT

There is a distinct danger that I may never do another deal again at this rate, but at the risk of further alienating the honourable and esteemed investment agency constituency, here goes...."Exchange to take place 20 days from...

Agency is Urgency

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:23:55 GMT

Or so I was always told, another good one is "Retail is detail."I've got a new one:"Agents forwarding information when you're in the middle of a deal without proffering an opinion on the content or more often, I...

If it's good enough for the Tchenguiz boys

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:46:08 GMT

So Mark has gone and got himself arrested.... Based on the 'same' events last week at Chez Tchenguiz, I will expect a media barrage followed by the administration of several Ellandi businesses.Robbo, at least Vincent and Robbie...

They'll Never Take Me Alive!!!!

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:06:53 GMT

My name has now been entered into the records as a wanton criminal, a legacy of Mr Blair's police state.For the crime of very slowly moving through a red light (far slower than a pedestrian), a fraction before it turns green,...

MIPIM2011

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:58:44 GMT

Please bookmark this page for further news on the live blog we will be running this year from Cannes.

Nailsea: HSBC to move next door

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:08:47 GMT

We're pleased to announce that HSBC today received planning permission for their proposed relocation within Colliers Walk. Not only will this result in their new premises being 50% lager, which shows their commitment to the town, but...

Ringing the Changes for New Year

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:54:08 GMT

The start of the new year will be a busy one for Ellandi.Having shared an office with Briant Champion Long for over two years, we have agreed a lease on our own office space from the Crown Estate. Our new address is 2nd Floor, 3...

Grays: Hard as Nails?

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:09:37 GMT

Well the ladies of Essex certainly like pampering themselves, which has enable our local nail-bar operator to take a second unit only yards away from his existing unit.Go on, treat yourselves, because you're worth it.

Nailsea: Christmas Cheer In Nailsea

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:37:20 GMT

We are please to announce that the country's favourite pub chain JD Weatherspoons have completed an agreement to lease to take a refurbishment of the former Glasshouse pub which has been vacant for some time.We have already...

Doddery old Tory "Is Not Nostalgic" shocker!

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:13:12 GMT

An Old Etonian prime minister, Democrats in power in the States, the ruling elite telling the little people "You've never had it so good"; no wonder Lord Young has no need to hark back to the 1950's, it's almost like they never went away!

Grays: Poundworld Opens

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:04:29 GMT

We're delighted to annonce the successful opening of Poundworld in the vacant premises that were previously the rear of the former Woolworths in the South Mall. This is fills the only major void within the scheme and has already provided...

Distressing Research

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:37:24 GMT

Today's FT has picked up on the fact that we working up some detailed research in respect of the amount of potentially defaulting debt secured against...

Grays: From kiosk to permanent unit, next world domination?

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:52:08 GMT

We're pleased to confirm that we have relocated a local tenant,who previously traded as a computer sales and repair unit, from a kiosk in the South Mall to 20b West Mall. From little acorns do oak trees grow; after all Tom Singh of New...

Grays: What a Gray day!

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:37:44 GMT

Ellandi is pleased to confirm that we have exchanged contracts to purchase Grays Shopping Centre in Essex in partnership with Rockspring (http://www.rockspringpim.com/main.asp).This latest purchase continues to build on our...

To ease or not to ease? Is no longer a question.

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:04:47 GMT

In anticipation of Messrs Bernanke and King cracking up the printing presses almost all asset classes are rallying.-Gold is up as a hedge against the "enevitable" ensuing hyper inflation.-Bonds are up as we will in...

It's not just A levels that appear to be getting easier.

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:57:52 GMT

In July the CES published the results of exhaustive stress test designed to put investors minds at rest that Europe's banking industry was ready to withstand the slings and arrows of further outrageous fortune, and thus end them, to dream...

We would have got away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids....

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:11:15 GMT

Is a refrain I hear on a daily basis, largely due to my three year old son's addiction to Scooby Doo.\r\nHowever the Irish finance minister Brian Lenihan is quoted in an interview with FT as saying that their priapic property boom was...

Nailsea: Neighbours, Everybody Needs Good Neighbours...

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:38:46 GMT

We are delighted to welcome Waitrose to the former Somerfield unit that fronts onto Somerset Square n Nailsea. First impressions are that the refurbishment has been a great success and that this premier retailer can only help us attract...

Another Winter of Discontent?

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:42:04 GMT

I am sure I'm not the only one who feels like we are living in a period of phoney war?The ConDems have done the best to convey a feeling of impending doom; that plague and pestilence will follow this Autumn's spending review,...

Nailsea: Store 21 Agreed in Record Time

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:43:44 GMT

We are pleased to announce that teenage fashion chain, Store 21, have agreed to take a new lease in the prime section of Somerset Square. This fell vacant due to Ethel Austin entering into administration and we are delighted to re-let it...

From Shropshire to Ibiza, How the BoE got Inflation Wrong

Thu, 20 May 2010 07:20:52 GMT

For most of my adult life I had assumed that stagflation was the process by which everyone of your friends stag do's had to be more lavish and excessive than the last; 10 years ago paintballing in Shropshire would suffice, now it's a long...

To blog or not to blog?

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:32:59 GMT

Is not actually the question I am often asked, but "Why do you bother?" is.The corporate answer is that when we set up our blog, Morgan and I wanted to to have a forum to interact with our various partners in a dynamic manner...

There's no such thing as bad publicity....

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:19:57 GMT

We were fortunate enough to be the subject of a major feature in property week....http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=36&storycode=3158905It initially focuses a little too much on the advisory side...

It's not at all like 2006

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:02:57 GMT

I, like many other people, have remarked over the last couple of months, that the market feels very much like the last days of the Roman Empire, sorry, 2006 with higher and higher prices...

Catalan Customs

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:23:10 GMT

Over the last week or so we have had number of meetings with our funding partners. They have ranged from wizened old UK industrial investors, to fresh faced US opportunity funds, both of which suggested that the current liquidity problem...

European Distressed Real Estate Forum

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:18:18 GMT

This rather grandly titled event takes place on the 25th and 26th March. Mark and I will be speaking. If that does not put you off and you have an interest in this sort of thing then take a look at the attached brochure

Ellandi complete restructuring

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:49:26 GMT

Having worked solidly on a financial restructuring since the autumn, we are delighted to have successfully closed a financial restructuring on behalf of the Soroya Family.Ellandi worked very closely with the family, its...

The War on Prop(erty) Trading?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:29:09 GMT

We live in strange days.The most left wing American president in my lifetime lurches so for to the left that he declares open warfare on the banks; the reaction from our labour government is appeasement, George Osborne agrees...

Still not sure if you are a banker....

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:33:57 GMT

It seems that my blog following the PBR was spot on. The Treasury is struggling to define who is a banker and, thus, who are the lucky punters that get to pay a bit more tax to HMRC.Dylan Lobo on Citywire has a good article...

Tax the bankers! But who are the bankers?

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Alistair Darling's pre-budget report was never going to please people as he had a series of very tough decisions that has to be made - tax more and spend less. His contribution to the festive cheer was a bit more banker...

If the Tories don't get in I'm leaving the country

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:39:55 GMT

Anyone who has read the Ellandi blog will know that I am pretty left of centre for a property chap, heck I'll even admit to the fact that I was actually a card carrying member of the Labour Party until well into my 30's.Which...

The Problem With PE

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:42:24 GMT

For most of my adult life any mention of PE, brought back the horrors of Physical Education classes of my youth, in particular a lesson in 1977 after my mother had packed me off to primary school without my kit. Having to do a class of...

Listen Very Carefully- Rising house prices is not a good thing

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:17:52 GMT

At the danger of being stoned to death the next time I go into a bar in Mayfair, or getting banned from even more dinner parties in South West London, can I state a few facts, as I see them:A housing market that rises much in...

PG Tips

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:39:38 GMT

It would appear that Anglo Irish are to start calling in Personal Guarantees (http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=...

The Property X Factor

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:52:23 GMT

John Maynard Keynes likened making investment decisions to the difficulty of deciding who will win a beauty contest. In this circumstance beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, rather,the determination of what is beautiful will be...

When €23bn is probably not enough...

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:08:13 GMT

The Irish Government have announced that NAMA will acquire real estate loan with a face value of €77bn for €54bn, report Property Week....

Loan to own’ gets Nailsea centre

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Australian and UK property company Stockland is beginning its exit from the UK with the sale of its Crown Glass Shopping Centre in Nailsea, Somerset, to Development Securities and Ellandi

Bank Lending?

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:20:10 GMT

You won't often see us talking up Robert Peston but he makes some very good observations in his recent blog on why Quantitative Easing is not leading to more bank lending.

Got any Guru Josh?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:24:23 GMT

Those who follow the "hit parade" may have heard the worldwide smash hit single Guru Josh Project Infinity 2008 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9KnuJZkBjg. Older "cheesy quavers"...

Debt Acquisition

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:09:36 GMT

We are pleased to report that we have closed the acquisition of a senior loan in partnership with Development Securities. Given there are various confidentiality issues associated to this, I will simply quote the stock...

What's Wrong With Being One of the Boys?

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:23:04 GMT

Warning: The following blog may offend half of the population.Now I don't have anything against women, after all I married one, every other of my parents is one and my daughter will grown into one in time too, but not too soon,...

Leading From the Front

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:20:17 GMT

Whilst I have no truck for self help books, I do enjoy reading the odd business biography or books on the psychology of investing.It's fair to say that Gerald Ronson's autobiography, with the above title, will never rival ...

The Wisdom of Gore Vidal

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:53:32 GMT

The great wit once said "Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little."I was therefore looking forward to the potential restorative powers of seeing financial disaster unfold in my very own living room, as I sat down with a...

Is inflation wwweally good for property?

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:42:19 GMT

Like many active buyers with cash, we too have recently fallen victim to "free valuation" scam, being perpetrated by certain vendors who feel quite content to let you do a number of weeks detailed work on a purchase only to be coquettishly...

Alan Shearer Is Not the Messiah, He's a Very Naught Boy.....

Wed, 27 May 2009 18:22:36 GMT

"Newcastle United needs to be filled with people who love this club”, so spoke, Alan Shrearer, yesterday.For any right minded follower of football, and at this stage I must declare an interest as a life long Sunderland fan,...

Dunbar Asset Management Mandate

Tue, 26 May 2009 10:04:41 GMT

We are delighted to have been asked to help Aitcheson Raffety, who have been appointed as receiver by Dunbar Bank plc, with asset managing of a retail development site.

Would you invest on a stag weekend?

Mon, 18 May 2009 14:44:38 GMT

It seems that when unprecedented economic events occur commentators reach for metaphors to try and rationalise what can not be readily explained using logical economic arguments. Thus, we regularly read about "Black Swans," "Five stages of...

The politics of envy and very fat cats

Thu, 14 May 2009 17:27:03 GMT

Being a closet communist, as some friends and associates would have you believe, you would not be surprised to learn that I wholly endorse the new upper rate tax band for people earning wages over £150k.At least now we have a...

In Defence of Journalists

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:58:38 GMT

To provide a bit of balance to my last post criticising a certain elements of the property press, I would like to commend Daniel Thomas' editorial in the FT this morning(

Ronson v Cahill, I know who my money's on.....

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:34:09 GMT

I've been more than a little remiss in posting recently, but I'm happy to say that it's a reflection of how hard we have been working; I'm quite confident that the volume of opportunities we're now working on will lead to some very...

Government Asset Protection Scheme, Explained....

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:03:44 GMT

At Ellandi, we always strive to make the most of our intellectual capital and bring incisive market insight to the market in these...

Planning in the nick of time

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:59:21 GMT

We have recently obtained planning in respect of the Victorian police station in Beckenham. We now have consent to partially demolish the ground floor and then extend it to provide a restaurant unit of 2,200 sqft and an adjacent retail...

A cautionary tale

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:45:29 GMT

In April 2008 Blackstone bought a package of leveraged loans from my old muckers at Deutsche Bank. This was one of the early distressed sales and Blackstone were buying at a significant discount to par. At the time discounted debt was...

Defending the indefensible...

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:18:34 GMT

The blog has been a bit quiet of late, Mark and I have both been on holiday and we have actually done some work as well. But we are back...Let's start with the topical Sir Fred Goodwin, ex-boss of RBS. Now its hard to feel...

A billion here, a billion there, soon it will add up to serious money....

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:16:05 GMT

Well it looks like in the case of losses on commercial property loans it does.I've known John Fraser-Andrews for about 15 years, and I hope he would not be too offended to hear me say that he was a pretty average agent and a...

Prew on Prozac

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:40:13 GMT

If you're feeling down in the dumps, sat at your desk thinking that 2009 looks a bit bleak, Mike Prew, Nomura's real estate analysis has some seasonal cheer for you.His latest Panglossian missive on the UK REIT sector is...

Prew on Prozac

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:40:13 GMT

Christmas Card Competition

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:45:25 GMT

We wanted to wish you a very Happy Christmas from all at Ellandi.(Please click on the image to enlarge)

Xmas Cards, in all shapes and sizes

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:28:42 GMT

Hopefully you have received your Ellandi Xmas card. (If not its on the Ellandi Christmas Card page.) We felt that light hearted banter was the way to deliver a little festive cheer after a fairly depressing 2008. But there are...

Its not the disclosure but the leverage that we should worry about.

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:03:13 GMT

David Ross is this week the most talked about business man in the UK and the press seem to have taken a certain degree of pleasure in destroying his previously golden image.Mr Ross was a pin up for entrepreneurial Britain,...

Our Next Development

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:58:19 GMT

We're delighted to announce that we have agreed terms with Next plc, to work with them on redeveloping their existing store in Bury St Edmunds.In Spring 2009, Next will be relocating into The Arc Shopping Centre and vacating...

Gordon Brown- Downfall

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:07:54 GMT

I know that this clip has been plagiarised to death, the Ozzie Olympic one is very good, but this did make me chuckle on this cold winter's morning...http://uk.youtube.com/...

No common view at Restructuring Lunch

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:41:25 GMT

Ellandi and K&L Gates hosted a restructuring lunch on 20th November. The objective was to create a forum for discussion in regards to how banks should approach distressed property loans. We were delighted to be joined by...

How deep is your L,U,V.

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:00:00 GMT

No, not the classic Bee Gees hit from 1977, masterfully reworked by Take That in 1996, but a question of how deep and what shape will the recession be?Will we bounce in and out, the classic "V" shape, as most economists predict?...

Ellandi Undercover with The SAS

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:39:23 GMT

Despite growing up in Measteg, not even Morgan is hard enough to join the real SAS, but Ellandi has been pleased to once again sponsor the Shop Agents Society annual dinner.Mark's luxury Ibizan villa (availableto rent next year...

Ellandi Completes Cashflow Review for Residential Developer

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:18:09 GMT

Ellandi has completed a financial review of a major developer that operates in the high end residential market.The business, with assets of £180m, brought in Ellandi as a consultant to undertake an emergency analysis of its...

Downshifting In a Downturn

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:45:31 GMT

The press is now full of articles extolling the virtues of the simple life and how "The Credit Crunch Brings Career Changes":http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/...

Regulation and The Law of Unintended Consequences

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:14:12 GMT

It would seem that the political consensus is that only further regulation can save us form the savage beast that is laying to waste the financial markets. I think at best it is likely that politicians will end quixotically tilting at...

The Cliches of Tomorrow

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:27:10 GMT

Gallows humour is getting better, as the world gets worse; expect to hear these trotted out over the coming months and years:"A rolling loan, gathers no loss." (Courtesy of those bright guys at Goldman's)"Their...

On our bike...

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:50:47 GMT

Ellandi has been covering a lot of miles of late. We have been assisting an international bank in reviewing its exposure to the UK residential market and specifically a number of mid size regional builders.Having made numerous...

And now for something different, irrational optimism.

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:20:09 GMT

It's 6.00am. May 14th 2010.Our hero awakes, slightly hungover following his 39th birthday. Still, he thinks, not too shabby, as he looks down at his six pack, running his fingers through his still thick, luxurious, curly hair.

Your a professional, take some responsibility...

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:58:44 GMT

If you are a local government treasurer and you got caught with a load of cash in Landesbanki, Kaupthing or any other Icelandic Bank then you deserve no sympathy. In fact you should be flogged by your local tax payers.You were...

Sympathy for Mr Tchenguiz

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:20:53 GMT

Robert Tchenguiz was widely reported to have lost a £1bn in 24 hours, earlier this week, as he was forced to crystalize his loss making stakes in M&B and Sainsbury's. These stakes have been loss making for quite sometime but he was...

Debretts Update Please

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:57:45 GMT

Unfortunately neither Morgan or I went to the right sort of school, so our manners sometimes leave something to be desired; we don't eat with our mouths open, but elbows are usually on the table.Having said that, there is one...

Darling, maybee I could come to love you?

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:41:14 GMT

I have not had a great deal of respect for Alistair Darling since I met him in early 2007. He had breakfast with a group of bankers, of which I was one, and openly invited questions from the room. When I asked the Chancelor how he would...

Crazy fact of the day...

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:58:03 GMT

The FT reports this morning that the cost of buying insurance against the defualt of a US government bond is now higher that the cost of the same insurance against McDonalds. i.e. people think there is a higher likelihood that the United...

Nevermind short selling, ban Robert Peston...

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:55:47 GMT

As regular readers (both of you) will have picked up, I am no great fan of Robert Peston and it would appear that I am in good company.My previous criticisms were more to do with style than substance and, for example, I...

The North-South divide

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:03:11 GMT

Alistair Darling, our Scottish chancellor, has been quite categoric that the blame for the current financial crisis should be attributed to The City.So Northerners should blame their greedy Southern cousins! Just a...

The week that was... or should I say the era that was?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:22:41 GMT

If you went on holiday last week, a cursory glance at the FTSE 100 could persuade you that you did not miss much. The market opened last Monday at 5,238 and closed on Friday at 5,335. A modest gain of 1.8%, so you probably didn't miss much....

You get a lot for £54bn these days

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:41:31 GMT

About 12 months ago, the RBS led consortium paid the market rate for ABN Amro, outbidding Barclays in the process.Barclays have now paid £1bn for Lehmans US investment banking arm, catapulting them into the big league at a...

He's back into the market, he thinks it's all over.... oh it's not.

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:59:25 GMT

It would appear that most people are now back and like truffle pigs are digging around in the mire looking for green shoots of recovery.I am doing my bit; sprinkling Prozac on my Cheerios every morning and only reading Anatole...

Giraffe Completes Brighton Lineup

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:33:35 GMT

The letting of the last remaining unit in the Jubilee Street development Brighton has now completed to Giraffe.Giraffe will make a welcome addition to a tenant line-up that already includes Carluccios, Tesco, Yo Sushi,...

Hello, Hello: Good to be Back

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:08:23 GMT

Well not if you're Gary Glitter or for that matter anyone in the property industry returning from holiday hoping that things were going to be different in September. I've just got back from the ususal short, restfull break in...

Ellandi - What's in a name?

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:35:08 GMT

We are continuously asked, what does Ellandi mean? So I thought I would finally dispel the myth that it has anything to do with Leeds United.In searching for a name we decided to go for something metaphorical. Poncey,...

The Banker's Dilemma

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:37:26 GMT

“Developers haven’t turned bad overnight” was an expression I heard twice in...

Sir Phillip You Are Wrong

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:59:13 GMT

It takes a brave man to say that, especially one who has worked in retail property for 15 years and has a career of at least that long again in front of him, hopefully. I still bare the emotional scars of having done a deal with the then...

Ellandi Restructuring

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:57:03 GMT

We are delighted to have launched Ellandi Restructuring. This is a dedicated business focused on finding solutions to stressed loans and investments in UK real estate.Ellandi Restructuring will partner with banks and property...

Now That's What I Call Whinging

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:48:36 GMT

Richard Lander on Citywire rightly feels that housebuilders should stop complaining about their current predicament and demanding state aid.

Are You Grieving For Last Years Market?

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:01:20 GMT

There is a defined process of grieving that was first identified by the Swiss doctor Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, who worked with the terminally ill (John Kay FT 14/11/07).There are four main stages:-Shock and Denial; "...

The Credit Crunch Cliché

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:24:21 GMT

In a recent article (FT 29/7/08), Gideon Rackman, argued that clichés are in effect truisms, based upon the received wisdom of crowds; or to put it another way, you are more likely to get the right answer asking the audience than phoning a...

The Dawn(ay) of a New Day?

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:01:29 GMT

Organic Finance?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:22:56 GMT

It’s amazing how things have changed in my kitchen. My fridge is full of products made especially for me by my friends - Rachel sends me lovely organic Yoghurt from West Wales, a farmer called Geoff grows my potatoes and my milk comes from...

Fame At Last

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:14:23 GMT

Having initially avoided overt publicity of our new venture, we decided to dip our toes in the water of celebrity culture and give an interview to Estates Gazette Capital.Despite harbouring concerns that we would be stitched up...

The Anti-Book Review

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:58:13 GMT

For any of you, who's idea of a good holiday is not reading books on economic theory and the origins of the credit crisis. I imagine that covers 99% of the population...Rather than follow up on Mark's reading tips, in his book...

Essential Holiday Reading

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:32:55 GMT

I have suspicions that my wife suffers from SAD (Seasonal Effective Disorder) which means that during the dark winter nights (which do not fly-by at Chez Robinson) she gets on the Internet and books up lots of holidays during spring.

Prisoners Dilemma

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:59:21 GMT

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Bought In the Nick of Time

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:41:35 GMT

Advised by Savills, we have recently acquired the former police station in Beckenham.This impressive Victorian building will, we hope, lend itself to conversion into two restaurant units with eight luxury flats above.

Welcome Message

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:42:04 GMT

Welcome to our blog.Many people are still unsure what a blog is and a proper explanation can be found here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog.However simply put it is a very flexible and cost effective...