Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
– Christopher Howse: ‘A Pilgrim in Spain’
Covid
The EU: Nick Corbishley reports on the consequences of relaxations.
The UK: After Freedom Day, Britain’s ‘experiment’ is being watched around the world. So, good to read that: Covid infections have halved in a week. And: The number of people infected with coronavirus has dropped for a 4th day, raising hopes that the pandemic may be levelling off. As for the UK’s traffic-light scheme, the next key meeting is on August 5 and it’s ‘expected’ that France will come off the Amber+ list – where it’s been all alone – to be replaced by Spain and maybe Greece. Meaning that: The holiday plans of nearly 6m Brits would be ruined. YCMIU.
Cosas de España/Galiza
All countries have a bad press at times. Here’s 2 negative reports on Spain-
1. Disturbing recent developments around promised citizenship rights for Sephardic Jews:
2. Gibraltar: Hypocrisy and illogicality born of an obsession.
A Spanish woman down in Valencia successfully sued her ex husband – 10 years after the divorce – for hiding his homosexuality from her. But a higher court there has reversed the judgment in her favour. This link might work for you.
The EU
Richard North – who is qualified to say so – avers that the EU’s system of vet inspection of foodstuffs is a hugely expensive farce, not helped by a Community-wide shortage of vets and vet assistants. If you want to know why, click here.
The Way of the World
Comedian Katherine Ryan.“There is a thought police with Covid. You can only have one opinion: Get your jab, wear the sticker. Comedians traditionally question what’s normal but, if I had questions about Covid, I’d be very frightened to publicly ask them.” Essentially: How can you poke fun at the various absurdities of the vaccine rollout without being labelled anti-vax? Good question. Note: Ryan considers herself woke — she wants to expose injustices against women and minorities — but finds younger generations telling her she is the wrong kind of woke.
Quote of the Day
Free speech never meant you had the right to say what you wanted without opposition, just a right to say it without being arrested. But these are unreasoned times.
English
Whatever you think ‘jack-in-the-box and ’round robin’ now mean, they were originally terms of abuse for tricksters who didn’t deliver on what they promised to. In the 16th century, they were applied by Evangelists to the host of the Catholic Mass – the analogy being that this was empty of the body of Christ. So, nowt but a piece of bread. Hence a (Catholic)complaint of 1546: Certayne fonde[foolish] talkers applye to the mooste holye sacramente, names of despitte and reproche, as to call it Jake in the boxe, and round roben, and suche other not onely fond but also blasphemouse names.
Finally . . .
From the Lisbon airport webpage: In direct flights between Lisbon, Porto and Faro, no testes are required.
Note: If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here.
Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain 