Covid

J&J have reported good results from a trial of a 2nd jab with their Janssen vaccine. Will I be among the folk here in Galicia getting a booster? Before I go to the UK next month?

Cosas de España/Galiza 

Here’s someone’s view of the best vineyards in the world. At a quick glance, I’d say Portuguese bodegas outnumber Spanish ones. Which won’t go down well here.

And here’s someone else’s view of the world’s best cities, of which 2 are Spanish. The usual ones.

Walking to and from Pilates this morning, I saw at least 10 of these glued to the path:-

An article in a local paper today explains that these reflect a demand that the river Gafos – recently covered over as being dangerous – should be uncovered and restored to its previous glory. Or perhaps to something better than that.

Another article advised of the ‘imminent’ arrival of 4 or 5 well-known retail outlets in a small industrial estate I pass through 4 times a day. I think the first time I saw this reported was 15 years ago. Things certainly can move slowly here in Spain. I wonder if one of the problems has been the adjacency of one of our 2 permanent gypsy settlements.

Which reminds me . . . I said months ago that the gypsies had illegally established a corner of Pontevedra’s Sunday flea market. I now see this has been expanded to become Gypsy Alley, behind our new – and ugly – museum/art gallery:-

It’s just as illegal but I guess it’ll be months before the police ban them, so that the game can be played all over again.

BTW . . . This lawn mower was one of the less-than-appealing items on sale last week:-

I mean, who’s going to buy this?

María’s Not So Fast:  Yes, it’s real

The UK 

Despite the Queen’s personal popularity, the monarchy as an institution lacks moral authority today. . . . Over a third of Brits back the abolition of the monarchy after the Queen dies.  . 41% of 18 to 24-year-olds would prefer an elected head of state. These percentages could well be higher in Spain, largely thanks to the last king and his shenanigans with women and money.

“Gammon”, “remoaner” “karen”, “boomer” and “snowflake” have been added to a list of words that could cause offence if uttered on TV or radio. Ofcom has deemed the terms to be mildly offensive and unlikely to cause harm in most circumstances. BUT: Their inclusion doesn’t mean they’re banned. So, you won’t be fined for using them: just looked at askance by the woke generation. Or possible cancelled by illiberal “progressives” who can’t see the irony in them seeing themselves as liberal thinkers.

Finally  . . .

For Brit TV watchers . . . Only Fools and Horses and especially the character Boycie are massive in Belgrade. As Norman Wisdom was in Iran and Albania.

Which reminds me – as someone who’s never found him funny – Charles Chaplin was so big in 1915 that the world suffered from an epidemic of chaplinitis.

Note: If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here