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

A lament for Lorca as artist makes a spectacle of the poet’s grave. An artist comes under criticism for his sculpture of Spain’s celebrated poet – killed by right-wing forces in the Civil war and buried no one knows where.

Lenox Napier writes of sore losers and opportunities lost.

The UK

I trained to central Manchester today and wondered how I’d find the experience as a foreign visitor to a country that’s allegedly going to pot, Well, the train was modern, clean and on time. And the scenery through the southern suburbs was quite charming, The track runs on an embankent above street level and the view – until we got to the city itself – was largely of traditional red-brick houses with neat gardens. And Picadilly station looks rather better than it used to. All in all, not at all bad.

The temperature today was around 18 and the sun was out, making it almost a summer’s day in the UK. Which surely explained why sp many young women were dressed as scantily as those of Pv city in 30 degrees.

The big negative – quite a lot of beggars – homeless? – on the pavements(sidewalks).

France/Europe

French exceptionalism . . . French ambition is threatening the EU’s green economy plans. Paris is setting stricter rules than the EU on waste and recycling, which some fear could undermine the bloc’s efforts.

China.

Beijing is accused of flooding the UK market with false stamps. Not entirely sure why . . .

Iran

Possibly bearing up for a crazy war with Israel. As if the world didn’t have enough problems.

The Way of the World/Transgenderism

• Richard North today on the long climb back to sanity from transgender madness.
• A female UK columnist vents at her fury here at those responsible for it. Sack those who conspired against children.
• Likewise this – also female – columnist.

Quote of the Day

Get ready for the excuses. For years now, those who have sounded the alarm over the dangers of ‘gender-affirming’ paediatric treatment have been monstered as ‘bigots’, ‘hateful’, ‘transphobic’ and even ‘fascist’. Now their concerns have been entirely vindicated by the Cass Review, and those most responsible for the monstering are already attempting to wriggle their way out of accepting responsibility. We can expect much more of this as further revelations come to light.

Social Media

The race to make smartphones illegal for children under 16 has gathered momentum but questions remain as to whether it would be effective or even necessary.

Did you know? . . .

Here’s how to spot the next mania. Each new panic follows the same playbook.

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. And this is something on the so-called Beckham Rule, which is beneficial – tax-wise – for folk who want to work here.