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

Sometimes Spain really can seem more-than-ordinarily shocking. Here, for example is something that came up in my ‘Spain’ feed this morning. Several times.

Less controversially, here’s an article from Fascinating Spain on the largest sculpture in the world, reminding us of the validity of the comment that Art is anything that someone calling themselves an artist says is art.

A Spanish sailor from the failed armada of 1588 has had his dying wish fulfilled 436 years later. For his sake at least, let’s hope there really is a Heaven and he is there in it, with his head replaced on his body. El País has the full story here

The UK

Oh, dear. Britain used to be a polite and decent country. No more. We’ve surrendered public spaces to the sorts of people who think it’s acceptable to play loud music on trains. Read more of this Telegraph columnist’s complaint here. I’m more concerned about the price of a small glass of low quality wine dressed up, in a ridiculous blurb, as something superior, But, then, I don’t go on trains much.

The USA

Two articles from outside the mainstream on why there’s a growing possibility of Trump returning to the presidency:-

• From Spiked on Line: The role of ‘unhinged progressives’

• From The New Humanist: The role of – equally unhinged? – conservative Christians

What a country.

China

Would you believe . . . After Lionel Messi ‘snubbed’ the country when he didn’t play in an exhibition match in Hong Kong, Chinese citizens in their thousands have pronounced the Falkland Islands British. Which must count for something. Though Beijing is unlikely to change its position on the Falklands in line with the views of its football fans. The Times has the story here.

The Way of the World

You can now get a degree on estate agent-ing in the UK. Realtor-ing in the language of the USA, where this has possibly existed for some years. Here’s The Telegraph on what it involves. Measuring a room, for example. The article cites other amusing vocational courses, again probably all available in California, if not Alaska. They probably don’t surf much in the latter state.

To note: Swindon was, of course, the location of the company in the wonderful comedy series – The Office.

Did you know? . . .

From a Times columnist: Last year, the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of ‘The Sound of Music’ was preceded by a caution that audiences “might find certain themes distressing“. These were the depiction of “Nazi Germany” and “the annexation of Austria”. Do they think we are all morons?

No, they’re afraid there’ll be at least one litigious snowflake in the audience. Or even a litigious non-snowflake out to get a settlement. Too much peace creates havoc on perceptions and priorities. And allows lawyers to breed.

Finally . . .

There was a time, many winters ago, when I’d get a Valentine’s card from my 2 daughters. Or at least from one of them. But, once again, there’s no expression of love from anyone this year – other than from me to myself, of course. I don’t know why I go on . . . 

The Usual Links . . .

You can get my posts by email as soon as they’re published. With the added bonus that they’ll contain the typos I’ll discover later. I believe there’s a box for this at the bottom of each post. I guess it’s logical that this doesn’t appear on the version given to me . . .

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.