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

If you’re interested in the 5-year-long political struggle over the senior judges, this article might help you understand what’s going on.

Three of Spain’s airports are numbered among the best in Europe. Given the distances you have to walk, Madrid’s is surely the best for those who want to keep fit.

The early-20th century Rif War – between Spain and Moroccan tribes – is seen by many as a doleful precursor to the Spanish Civil War and the 2nd World War. Gory details here. Tomorrow, a fascinating podcast on it.

You might think that, as we have a church dedicated to the Virgen Peregrina that this particular virgin is Pv city’s patron. But she isn’t. This honour goes to one of Spain’s sinfin of other Virgins – La Virgen de la O. I’ve forgotten what the O stand for but I can tell you that in our (Italian Baroque) Jesuit church there’s this statue of her, embarazada, Which isn’t very usual, I read:-

The UK 

One of the finest TV shows of the last 50 years?

The EU

The parliament has been engulfed by the corruption scandal, it’s claimed here.

The Way of the World

Edinburgh University has been accused of fostering a “hostile” environment on campus for women’s rights campaigners by failing to tackle militant trans activists. The allegations came after the University proved unable to prevent demonstrators — some masked — from blocking the entrance to lecture halls where ‘Adult Human Female’ a critique of trans ideology, was due to be screened, causing the film show’s cancellation.

Quotes of the Day

1. Crypto was meant to solve financial corruption. The FTX scandal shows it’s got worse.
2. The apogee of idiocy was reached this week when a Scottish court ruled that transwomen – men – should be allowed to take seats on public boards traditionally reserved for women. Men, women, who gives a shit? They’re all the same.

Spanish

The traditional English encouragement to imminent stage performers is ‘Break a leg!’. I’m told by my friend Sam the Piano Man that the Spanish equivalent is Mierda/Mucha mierda!. Because centuries ago a lot of horse dung in the streets would mean a lot of traffic en route to the theatre.

English

The OED’s word of the year is ‘Goblin mode’ – meaning lazy, slovenly behaviour. Or behaviour which is “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations”. There must be a lot of it around, in the UK at least. Do I see an Oxford comma there?

Did you know?

‘Initial results from an ongoing study in Ireland suggest that music may have a greater emotional impact on older people than their younger counterparts’. Phew. I’d begun to worry about the ability of music to reduce me to tears. Classical music, I mean. Though modern pop music has the same effect, albeit for different reasons . . .

Finally . . .

To amuse . . . The UK Xmas no. 1? Ladbaby’s Food Aid. . . . .Feed the UK. Sausage Rolls for All

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.