Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable
Christopher Howse: ‘A Pilgrim in Spain’
Covid
I suspect it’ll be a few years yet before we know what the full cost to the health and welfare of people – not to mention the impact on economies – really was as a result of (panic?) responses to Covid from early 2020 onwards. And it’ll be interesting to see if the overall impact on Sweden was significantly less than on other countries.
Meanwhile, here’s an excellent article on the theme. Tasters: Has the Left finally woken up to the devastating costs of implementing lockdowns? Mark Woolhouse’s book — “The Year the World Went Mad” — argues that long lockdowns promoted more harm than good and failed to protect the vulnerable. For the first time, the question of what really represented the collective good in the Covid debate has been put on the table by a mainstream left-liberal publication. So, have the massively vilified folk behind the Barrington Declaration been vindicated? Quite possibly.
I can only add that I’ve spent the last 6 weeks in the UK dealing with a family problem severely exacerbated by Covid measures. So, I’m a tad biased on this issue.
One thing’s for sure – We’ll eventually know who made financial killings out of the plague, for some to the tune of millions. Even billions. For example, the gross profit margin on PCR tests is as high as 90%. Count them up . . . X millions x 90% x 90 pounds in the UK alone.
Cosas de España/Galiza
A Peruvian author fears that Spain is far from an apology for its Latin American abuses. How, she asks, can we expect this country, which is still so wrapped up in an imperial, Francoist vision, to look into how to make amends to other people elsewhere?”. Nice question.
I can’t pretend to know what’s been going on with electricity prices here in Spain. And I’m not sure I’m any the wiser after reading this article.
The UK
Richard North takes an unhappy look into the future today. And you can’t get more pessimistic than this. It would seem that climate change is the new religion of our elites, and Net Zero is the root command of everything government does. Infused with wokery and identity politics, it’s difficult to see any redemption for the UK. Our electoral system is essentially rigged and the establishment parties have made sure our votes cannot change things. It’s going to take something seismic to shock them from their stupor. I don’t even think rolling blackouts will get their attention. Ultimately without fossil fuels there is no prosperity. Green energy is a fantasy. But for as long as we’re ruled by entitled elites in thrall to the new religion, who believe it is their born right to inflict their economic and social agendas on us without our consent, there is no hope for Britain’s future. Just a long, slow, inexorable decline. But at least we can take shelter under solar panels. They’re useful for something.
The Way of the World
Those 5 star reviews. How credible? Not very.
I spoke of wokeism as a religion the other day. Here’s a good article on this theme, one of many on the net. It’s from a Catholic journal I wouldn’t normally have anything to do with. It might still be accurate, even if rather biased.
English
This has to be an interesting book. So, I’ve bought it. If only because the author and I share an alma mater . . . Not really.
Finally . . .
Well, Miele delivered my repaired vacuum cleaner to my daughter’s house the day after I’d left for Spain, having had 6 weeks to do this. She sent it back as, despite being repaired under the guarantee, I was invoiced 125 quid. I’ve told Miele to stick it up their fundament but I’m sure they’ll sell it as refurbished. So, they’ll have done rather better than me out of a machine that ceased working after very little use.
Talking of deliveries . . . I emailed Private Eye early yesterday asking why I’d received no copies since early November. At midday, I found 3 copies in my mail box. Covid? Brexit? Xmas? Or a combination of all 3?
This blog can be seen on Twitter and on the Facebook group page – Thoughts from Galicia.
If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here.
Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain 