Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts the stars to flight.

And, lo, has caught the sultan’s turret In a noose of light!

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable

– Christopher Howse: ‘A Pilgrim in Spain’ 

Cosas de España/Galiza

Ferocious wild creatures roam the streets of Barcelona, and elsewhere. Including very near my house in Poio Arriba . . .

Talking of threats to householders . . . The problem of squatters(okupas) is a very serious one in Spain, covered a lot by Mark Stücklin in his Spanish Property Insight page. According to the VdG, the Galician courts alone are currently processing 360 cases agains these folk. As the recession deepens, the number is likely to rise

As it was a public holiday here in Spain yesterday – the first of 2 this week – I went down into Portugal with friends. A nice quiet place which does a lovely seafood rice and excellent vinho verde. And has a great football team.

The UK 

The news is so relentlessly awful, I’m close to giving up on reading British newspapers. Even the ever-growing travails of Mrs Sturgeon don’t interest me anymore. Only the acerbic John Crace in The Guardian remains an amusing read. Bad times. Thank god for the football.

Quote of the Day

We have a generation who, even if they can think critically, are afraid of becoming outcasts from their tribe.

The World Cup

So, Iberia will be represented by a rampaging Portugal in the next round, after the truly shocking defeat of Spain by little Morocco. After Spain’s last match, the media here gave all the players low ratings of only 3 to 5. I wonder what they’ll be this morning . . .

The Way of the World

Some very good news for Christians, I guess . . .

No, Jesus was not trans

Finally . . .

As I drove down the steep hill from my house yesterday, the corner of my left eye noted something small and dark undertaking me at the side of the road. My first thought was that it was a very speedy rat – though at 30km+ seemed unlikely. So, I wasn’t surprised to see it was a rubber ball. After a few seconds, it crossed in front to me and came to rest behind the wheel of a parked car. This is it, possibly without something that used to be inside it:-

But is it really just a ball – perhaps for a dog – or something else? Answers on a postcard please. I guess the paws I’ve only just noticed are a clue . . .

Thanks to problems with both my old Mac and my new PC, I feel like this today . . .

For new readers:-

1. If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here. If you’re passing through Pontevedra on the Camino, you’ll find a guide to the city there.

2. Should you want to, the easiest way to to get my post routinely is to sign up for email subscription. As opposed to using a Bookmark or entering the URL in your browser.