Paws for thought

Along, long time ago, at the end of December and early January Polish people remembered the dead and celebrated the passing of the year by feasting on the fruits of that year’s harvest. Animals were often fed lavishly with the food spread on the tables of their masters. Rural communities commonly held the belief in those days that the wandering spirits of their ancestors could speak through animals. This was the origin of the tradition for Poles to listen to pets at midnight on Christmas Eve. Almost everyone who is a pet owner always wonders what they would have to say. So today we are finally giving you the chance to find out what the thoughts are of the four-legged companions of real estate people.
But would I actually like what my pet Elmo wants to tell me? Yes and no. On the one hand I know that he would say I love you and you are the best owner in the world; on the other, it would be: “Stop working and look after me all day, walk with me, cuddle me and stroke me!” This year my wish for all pets is that their owners will not have to work so much and for Elmo I hope to find the time to slow down over the festive period and go for long walks with him in the forest every day – and not only just on a weekend afternoon. For our readers, my wish is for transactions to finalise themselves and buildings to build themselves in the New Year, so that you will all have more time for such small but sweet pleasures.

Merry Christmas, both man and beast! Zuzanna Wiak

Dajtona with Dorota Jagodzińska-Sasson, board member of MLP Group
I like Saturday walks with my mistress because this is when she tells me about her work. She probably thinks I don’t understand anything, but I know what I know. This year’s WSE debut of MLP Group and the sale of all the shares offered was a real success. The record warehouse leasing dynamics also made my mistress very happy. I hope that she will tell me about everything now, even though she keeps a lot of ‘confidential information’ to herself. It’s not like I’m going to bark it to anyone!

Cynia with Anna Staniszewska, head of CEE research and consultancy, BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland
Some of us have been naughty and some of us have been nice. Either way, it’s always fine to make a Christmas wish-list for Santa. We all know there is no greater gift than our family and friends, but here are my Christmas wishes for real estate professionals. I wish: that all of the properties you are leasing end up leased; that all of your sales/acquisitions close; that property valuations generate values that are higher than the listed prices; that you can get through at least one party or family celebration without having to respond to a real estate emergency; that the batteries for your various electronic devices last as long and work as hard as you do; that all of your phone calls, emails and text messages are returned promptly and courteously; that your office meetings are interesting (or at least have good coffee and pastries); and that 2014 is a great year to be working in the property business. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all!

Mrówka (left) with Anna Strużyńska, associate of law firm White & Case Warsia with Katarzyna Barańska, associate of law firm White & Case
“Mrówka, have you heard that New Year is approaching and that this will bring more changes to the property market?”
“No, I have been very busy hunting our neighbour’s pet fish lately. Do you know, the security in these modern buildings will be the end of me one day! Warsia, what exactly is changing?”
“They are supposedly planning an amendment to the construction law, while the act on allotments will finally be adopted at the beginning of 2014. My friend Filemon says that generally 2014 is expected to see a considerable revival on the property market.”
“Finally!”
“So I suggest lounging around on the sofa only until the end of the year. And then we should get down to work!”
“That’s a great idea, Warsia! But maybe we should just lie here until Christmas Eve. Then we can make big eyes at the humans until they give us some carp. Interesting times ahead of us, indeed!”

Frajda with Wojciech Kamiński, managing director, Maxi Zoo Polska
Wojtek! I wish you at least eight new Maxi Zoos in 2014!

Trampek with Paulina Krasnopolska, director of marketing and PR, CBRE
I wish there could be more beautiful days like today, when people can spend more time with their furry and feathered companions. I wish everyone peace and warmth and first of all closeness. May the next year bring you satisfaction with the things you do. And may lots of parks, gardens, green buildings, and people- and animal-friendly places be developed!

Ultras with Jerzy Szczepanik-Dzikowski, founder of the JEMS Architekci studio
I stay silent the whole year long before I say something. What about you?

Cher and Tarantella – the owners of Mieszko Czarnecki, Szczecin regional director, Colliers International Polska
Tarantella: “Yes, it is true. We are rascals. Let’s not be ashamed of it. We would prefer for Mieszko to simply accept this rather than try to change it. We will find our presents sooner or later anyway. And in the New Year we would like to go out for walks more and go on manoeuvres less – because we are both princesses and not the soldiers he seems to take us for. We like travelling, so we have nothing against visiting Warsaw’s Metropolitan building more often in the New Year.”
Cher: “I have already been there and I ran around the entire office like a tornado.”
Tarantella: “I haven’t been there yet and now I’m annoyed about the fact that Cher knows something I don’t!”
Cher and Tarantella: “And finally, as it’s Christmas we want to wish Old Mieszko to spend as much time in front of the computer as he spends with us outdoors.”

Smokey together with Brian Burgess, managing director of Savills Polska – and Vivian
Hi. My name is Smokey – I belong to Vivian. I’m waiting here tonight to see Father Christmas to tell him that Vivian has been good all year and deserves to receive all the presents that she listed in her email to him. I’ve not wasted my time over the last twelve months and have read all of Savills’ market bulletins. On the basis of these I predict that 2014 will be a positive year for the property markets, with occupational demand up and investment volumes rising towards EUR 4 bln. Finally, I would like to make a wish for myself that Vivian signs me up for Facebook and Twitter so that I can follow what my friends get up to in 2014. I wish you and your family and friends the very best of health, happiness and success in 2014. Speak to you again next year!

Kiwi with Agnieszka Jachowicz, managing director of the Arka BZ WBK property market funds and Tadeusz Jachowicz, director of Gleeds Polska
Woof, woof! I wish you a good nose for investments, and that you can be as resistant to any market conditions and as beautiful as me! Woof, woof!