HAPPY ASSUMPTION DAY HOLIDAY!

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

It’s reported that 1 in every 4 new jobs created in the economy is linked to tourism. Given both the immigration stats and my own experience in hostelry places, I wonder how many of these are of South Americans – and even Moroccans – rather than Spaniards. Unemployment among Spain’s young -18-35 year olds – remains very high. Which reminds me . . . I couldn’t adequately answer my daughter’s question – So how do young Spaniards survive? Other than by accessing el banco de los padres. Or los abuelos.

Exhibitions across Spain are commemorating the Spanish painter, Sorolla, famous for seascapes and brilliance who died in 1923. Discover his most impressive works. Maybe somewhere near you. Possibly Valencia, where he was born. Highly recommended.

Ahead of today’s national holiday, I went supermarket shopping last night with my younger daughter and was surprised to hear her say that several items were more expensive than in the UK. For example butter, cornflakes and biscuits. None of them essential, I guess. Except, perhaps, if you have 3 young kids.

I experienced last night probably the worst case of signalling in 23 years . . . There’s a roundabout near my home, ahead of which 2 lanes are chevroned down to 1 and then become 2 again on the roundabout itself. The car in front of me signalled left, leaving me to guess it was going to do a U-turn. But, after it’d entered the roundabout – in the outside lane of course – it began to signal right. And then proceeded to ignore the right turn and go straight ahead. In other countries, neither of these signals would be made for a car going straight on. Is it any wonder that no one trusts signals here?

Erratum for early readers yesterday: I should’ve written naturist, not naturalist. A different animal. Ought to have stuck to nudist . .

The UK

Two articles – here and here – on the willingness to pay a small fortune and to risk death in the English Channel in order to seek asylum in the UK. And on the preventative measures.

The EU

There’s no democratic deficit, avers the FT here. Perhaps better put as ‘If there really is, it’s no worse than in any nation you can mention’. Maybe.

Italy

More here on the (Dog Days) story of stealth costs in restaurants.

China

Trouble at t’mill*? A slew of recent disappointing figures out of China has hardened concerns that its economy is not emerging from the pandemic at the pace many had expected.

• *t’mill

The USA

This is something for those interested in Hawaii’s ‘environmental fuel-load’ problem and its possible solutions. Maybe sheep will safely – and usefully – graze.

Russia v Ukraine

A realist’s view? Heading for the Korean ‘solution’?

(A)GW/Energy/Net Zero

I cited RN saying the majority of folk are ignorant of what Net Zero is and what it really implies for their lives. This is an article which – in brief – attempts to redress the knowledge-ignoreance balance. A more serious option would be to read the (controversial)book I’ve cited – Fossil Future. Which – at some length – expands on the arguments in the article and puts flesh on the bones of the writer’s contentions. Which won’t convince everyone, of course. Certainly not Geoge Monbiot and other zealots. Whose belief system – like those of some theists – is impervious to facts and counter-arguments.

The Way of the World

You’ll all know that the Brics are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Well, they plan their own currency, to challenge the dollar’s dominance. The economist* who invented the acronym thinks this is a ridiculous idea for a group which ‘has achieved nothing’ to date.

• *See below

You thought it was only Albanians . . Once a scourge of only Premier League footballers and celebrities, a new wave of Chilean ‘burglary tourists’ is flying in to target middle class areas of Britain. Taking advantage of lax tourist visa rules, they scope high-value properties in areas like Cheshire’s ‘Golden Triangle’. . . . This wave of Latin American burglary gangs has been made possible by the re-opening of long-haul flights after the Covid pandemic. Not only in the UK, of course . . .The gangs are part of an international phenomenon, with 57 Chileans being held in Spain – a common stop-off point for South American criminals bound for the UK. Not a worry for most of us, of course.

Finally . . .

Economists . . .

• Why did God create economists? To make weather forecasters look good.
• Per JK Galbraith: The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.
• Per President Johnson: Find me a one-armed economist. I’m tired of being told ‘On the one hand . . . On the other . . .’

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 – updated a bit in early July 2023.