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

I suspect that, despite the best efforts of our (30+) narco clans in Galicia, Spain has fallen down these rankings, from 2 to 4 . . . Per capita consumption of cocaine – nicknamed farina/harina in Galicia/Spain:-

• 1. Australia
• 2. The UK – recently moved past the next 2.
• 3. Austria
• 4. Spain
• 5. The USA

Talking of which . . .

The USA

The power of the orange clown . . . How Donald Trump paralysed liberal America. But is he as bad or as dangerous as he’s (garishly) painted? Or just a colourful character whose job is to entertain the masses, in lieu of bread and circuses?

The UK

Richard North goes to town here on the country’s failings/failures. Quite a litany. If I still lived there, I think I’d want to leave. But, fortunately, I was ahead of my time back in 2000 . . .

Should you want predictions for 2024, The Times obliges here. That on the NHS is surely enough to make any user/victim of ‘the envy of the world’ break down in tears, whether they’re currently in pain or not. Especially when it’s certain that the incoming Labour government won’t solve the NHS’s problems, whether they have 4, 8 or 12 years in which to do so.

The Way of the World

My (Jewish) sister sent me this greeting last night, so I’m passing it on to you all:-

• To all my friends over 30: Enjoy a Merry Christmas, excessive alcohol, too much food and lots of merriment followed by a Happy and prosperous New Year!
• To my younger friends: Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice. With respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2024, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures. Also, these wishes are made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the recipient.

I think this greeting was originally sent to his friends by Jonathan Swift. Where is he now, when we really need him?

Did you know? . . .

Jesus Christ wasn’t really born on 25 December. No one knows when he was. We’d have a good idea of when, if there were hard – any? -evidence of the Roman census that ‘Luke’ claims took his parents back to one of the 2 Bethlehems in Judea, two thousand and twenty three years ago. But there ain’t.

Finally . . .

This is Lenox’s response to P J O’Rourke’s suggestion that folk on the Left rarely have a sense of humour: In my opinion, it’s rare to find anyone from the far-right with a sense of humour. They certainly can’t laugh at themselves. I guess idealogues of any stripe very rarely can.

The Usual Links . . .

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.

For those thinking of moving to Spain:- This is an extremely comprehensive and accurate guide to the challenge, written by a Brit who lives in both the North and the South and who’s very involved in helping Camino walkers

SEASON’S GREETING TO ALL AND SUNDRY. ESPECIALLY THE SUNDRY.