The Tapas Note.

[barrier]

I have merged two threads since they look at the same topic. It's worth reading over the first three pages as this identifies the receptionist who wrote the note.  I thought it was written in English but doubt that now.  The note was never included with the files DVD.

 http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LUISA_COUTINHO.htm

You have to wonder why it was dropped into the conversation that they wanted to dine together so as to leave the children unattended, when there was a free baby sitting service available.


 

[Brietta]

Without the distractions of the media circus, the Ambassadorial and Consular interest, the UK police helpers, and the myriad of reported sightings they might just have had the time to pick up on these things.

 
 ... "the media circus"? Isn't informing the press part of the usual procedures which happen when a child disappears? 

[sadie]

You have to wonder why it was dropped into the conversation that they wanted to dine together so as to leave the children unattended, when there was a free baby sitting service available.

Free or charged, would you risk an unknown, or relatively unknown, person baby sitting YOUR Children?

I wouldn't.

[sadie]

You have to wonder why it was dropped into the conversation that they wanted to dine together so as to leave the children unattended, when there was a free baby sitting service available.

Normal conversation with someone he (thought) he trusted.  A persuasive reason. maybe, why they needed the Tapas restaurant, because they all were leaving their children and needed to check on them regularly.

No mystery there.  Soz barrier

[Robittybob1]

You have to wonder why it was dropped into the conversation that they wanted to dine together so as to leave the children unattended, when there was a free baby sitting service available.

To use the free service you had to take the children over to the main reception area,  Carrying three sleepy kids at night is physically exhausting.

[Benice]

At the Ocean Club that week one group left their children unsupervised in their apartments while they went out for dinner. In order to make it possible to check on their children they wanted to dine at the Tapas every evening. The rule was that the Tapas bookings were done daily, but to save themselves the bother they persuaded or insisted on being allowed a block booking for the week. By doing that they attracted the attention of both staff and other guests.

I think it's perfectly feasible that the situation was discussed. I can imagine staff asking each other where people had gone.were going. I can imagine guests telling others they couldn't get into the Tapas and the reason why  group of nine managed to get in every night being discussed.

The group were noticeable because what they were doing at the Ocean Club was out of the ordinary and impacting on other's choices.

Are the childcare arrangements of all of the other families at the OC that week recorded in the files?

Whether the McCanns and their friends were discussed or not isn't the point.  There is absolutely no justification for the use of the word 'notorious' in this context IMO.   None whatsoever.

[Robittybob1]

Doesn't mention any notes?

But the book is mentioned "She never saw anything strange. During this interview she provided a book with the reservations for the Tapas restaurant." and she mentions the reasons why the Tapas group wanted the block booking.
"The man justified his request by saying that the group had many small children whom they would leave alone when they went to dine. She said that at intervals some two parents would go to the apartments to see if everything was OK."
 http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LUISA_COUTINHO.htm

[Robittybob1]

I have merged two threads since they look at the same topic. It's worth reading over the first three pages as this identifies the receptionist who wrote the note.  I thought it was written in English but doubt that now.  The note was never included with the files DVD.

 http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LUISA_COUTINHO.htm

The request for the block booking was made on the Sunday and that day's booking sheet is not available.  I would think since there are the hole punch mark on the other sheets the book was more a file folder and I suggest only the relevant pages were removed to be in the file.

[misty]

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RACHAEL-OLDFIELD-11-MAY07.htm

From Rachel's statement 15/5/07


On the 29th, 30th, April, 1st, 2nd and 3rd May they always dined at the Tapas restaurant.

On Monday they were told that there was no room for all of them in the restaurant, but they obtained a special favour from a waiter and all dined together. In order to obtain this favour they said that the children were asleep and that they could not move anywhere else. For this reason, from this day onwards they would reserve a space in the restaurant (for the adults) for the following day.

That on the five consecutive nights they dines at the Tapas restaurant they always followed the same ritual.

They would always begin dinner at 8.30, after the children were asleep. If one of them hadn't fallen asleep, one member of the couple would stay until the child had fallen asleep and as soon as that happened, would go and join the others.

This happened to ROB on Tuesday evening and he did not manage to have dinner, his partner Jane Tanner brought him his dinner in his room.

On Wednesday evening the witness did not go for dinner because she was feeling ill and spent the day in the apartment.

On Thursday evening, for the same reason, ROB went to dinner ten minutes late.

===================================================================

[sadie]

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RACHAEL-OLDFIELD-11-MAY07.htm

From Rachel's statement 15/5/07


On the 29th, 30th, April, 1st, 2nd and 3rd May they always dined at the Tapas restaurant.

On Monday they were told that there was no room for all of them in the restaurant, but they obtained a special favour from a waiter and all dined together. In order to obtain this favour they said that the children were asleep and that they could not move anywhere else. For this reason, from this day onwards they would reserve a space in the restaurant (for the adults) for the following day.

That on the five consecutive nights they dines at the Tapas restaurant they always followed the same ritual.

They would always begin dinner at 8.30, after the children were asleep. If one of them hadn't fallen asleep, one member of the couple would stay until the child had fallen asleep and as soon as that happened, would go and join the others.

This happened to ROB on Tuesday evening and he did not manage to have dinner, his partner Jane Tanner brought him his dinner in his room.

On Wednesday evening the witness did not go for dinner because she was feeling ill and spent the day in the apartment.

On Thursday evening, for the same reason, ROB went to dinner ten minutes late.

===================================================================

So, it seems according to Rachel, they did not make a block booking, but got there early each day to reserve their table.

A bit like the Germans are reknowned for putting their towels out at some unearthly hour to reserve the best sunbed places by the pool !


But with their children needing to be nearby for regular checking, who can blame the tapas group of friends for grabbing the table early?

[G-Unit]

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/RACHAEL-OLDFIELD-11-MAY07.htm

From Rachel's statement 15/5/07


On the 29th, 30th, April, 1st, 2nd and 3rd May they always dined at the Tapas restaurant.

On Monday they were told that there was no room for all of them in the restaurant, but they obtained a special favour from a waiter and all dined together. In order to obtain this favour they said that the children were asleep and that they could not move anywhere else. For this reason, from this day onwards they would reserve a space in the restaurant (for the adults) for the following day.

That on the five consecutive nights they dines at the Tapas restaurant they always followed the same ritual.

They would always begin dinner at 8.30, after the children were asleep. If one of them hadn't fallen asleep, one member of the couple would stay until the child had fallen asleep and as soon as that happened, would go and join the others.

This happened to ROB on Tuesday evening and he did not manage to have dinner, his partner Jane Tanner brought him his dinner in his room.

On Wednesday evening the witness did not go for dinner because she was feeling ill and spent the day in the apartment.

On Thursday evening, for the same reason, ROB went to dinner ten minutes late.

===================================================================

Well I never.

[sadie]

Well I never.

Good for them.  Trying to be as close to their children asd possible, and actually being in quite close sight of them if the children awakened and looked out.

Others had the opportunity to book, so long as they got going early.

[stephen25000]

Good for them.  Trying to be as close to their children asd possible, and actually being is quite close sight of them if the children awakened and looked out.

Others had the opportunity to book, so long as they got going early.

Being as close to the children as possible, would have involved eating in their respective apartments,or of course employing babysitters as is common practice in this country.

[slartibartfast]

But the book is mentioned "She never saw anything strange. During this interview she provided a book with the reservations for the Tapas restaurant." and she mentions the reasons why the Tapas group wanted the block booking.
"The man justified his request by saying that the group had many small children whom they would leave alone when they went to dine. She said that at intervals some two parents would go to the apartments to see if everything was OK."
 http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LUISA_COUTINHO.htm

So nothing about kids left in rooms in the reservation book?

[sadie]

So nothing about kids left in rooms in the reservation book?

Are you reading the same Robitty quote as i am?

Robitty quote:
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LUISA_COUTINHO.htm

=snip-
During this interview she provided a book with the reservations for the Tapas restaurant." and she mentions the reasons why the Tapas group wanted the block booking.
"The man justified his request by saying that the group had many small children whom they would leave alone when they went to dine. She said that at intervals some two parents would go to the apartments to see if everything was OK." -snip-


As we already know that there was a written note about the children being on their own and the parents wanting to check them regularly, the word "mentions" obviously means mentions [written] in the Reservation book.


But have we found out yet if that was written in Portuguese or in English?


We sdtill dont know if it was written in Portuguese or in English