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

It’s interesting to note that the Spanish Tax Office – the Hacienda – is refusing to pass to Brussels the info it’s garnered on money-laundering activities here in Spain. Or as the headline puts it: The Hacienda is resisting collaboration with the EU in its fight against corruption. One wonders why, of course.

Another intriguing headline about ongoing discussion about collaboration, eg on rail lines:- Between Spain and Portugal there is an enormous strategic distrust. Possibly because the Portuguese know that the Spanish look down on them, in the same way as the French look down on the Spanish. And they all look down on the Moroccans.

I’ve said more than once that things take their time in Spain. The Catholic Church has agreed to give up some of its tax concessions, in line with a a decision announced in 1975 that this – and more – would happen ‘soon’. If not ‘immediately’.

I discovered last night that in the Polish city of Puszczykowo [nor me], there’s a 1:1 replica of Columbus’s ship the Santa María. As regular readers will know, this was built close to my home in Poio and originally called La Gallega. Here’s the proof. And more fotos of it.

I wanted to post these yesterday but the light was poor for the taking of fotos . .
My neighbour’s daisy-full lawn . . .

Mine, after a couple of years of eradication efforts. . .

As you can see, my neighbour is even less of a gardener than me. But hasn’t killed any of his trees. . .

The UK and Ireland

President Biden has flown into Belfast, to solve the continuing problem of Northern Ireland, about which he probably has a less-than-perfect understanding. But good luck to him, of course. Biden makes much of his Irishness. As I have Irish nationality, I actually have more of that than him, though I don’t bang on about it. But, then, I’m not an American politician in hock to the Irish vote. And with a presidential election next year.

The USA

Talking of the President . . . Joe Biden knows the game is up: he’s too old to run for a second term, says this British columnist. Biden’s would-be successors are waiting in the wings – but less and less so – for him to finally fall on his face. And not get up.

Russia

What you get for criticising Putin and his war. Probably poisoned and certainly imprisoned for a long time.

The Way of the World

A female columnist takes a wry look at Gywneth Paltrow’s latest sex tips, care of her new Goop Sex Instagram site. It takes all sorts.

There’s a bonus bit about Brits going on holiday.

English

In case you read that article and are unaware . . . Love handles: A nice polite term for ‘fat’ around your waist.

Did you know?

Your typing style is a tell-tale sign as regards your stress levels.

Finally . . .

Do we Colins really deserve this? There’s a new ‘quirky’ BBC comedy series – from Oz – called Colin from Accounts. Which is actually the name of a dog.

Sometimes I have to calm down by reminding myself that my first forename is actually David, not Colin. Which I always uses in Spain, as it simplifies matters considerably, being both a Spanish name and what appears on the ID card I’m regularly asked for. As a result of which, every computer in Spain – and most people looking at the card – think that Colin is the first of my 2 surnames. Which has given me hours of fun over the years.

For new readers:- 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.