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 . .

This news reminded me that there’s nothing like the reaction in Spain to tax increases compared with the UK . . . The tax burden in Spain has increased across the board, both on companies and on citizens, in contrast to a very small increase in the tax burden in most advanced economies. Specifically, the tax burden on average wages (including social security contributions and personal income tax) will rise to 40.2% of gross labour costs, six tenths more than the previous year. This makes Spain the fifth developed country that has increased its tax burden on workers’ salaries the most and widens its gap with the average. In the UK, both major parties are terrified of raising the income tax rate and so play games with National Insurance contributions, which are simply disguised income tax.

Here’s some mostly right-wing takes on the PM’s message to Spanish citizens. Needless to say, conspiracy theories abound. A nice one is that he is preparing to quit in favour of a high-ranking EU job. Here’s another one – the ‘real reason’ for his surprise announcement. All to do with malevolent Moroccans. Maybe.

And here’s the latest FT article on this.

Looking at Spanish politics, it’s sometimes easy to understand why the Spanish took to slaughtering each other back in 1936. But even nasty jaw-jaw is better than war-war, of course. And I doubt the latter’s on anyone’s horizon.

Portugal

The country is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Carnation Revolution.

The UK

The hapless Scottish First Minister looks like he’s not got long to go, prompting one commentator to remind us of the political dictum that – in a democracy, I guess – politicians who try to look tough alway end up looking foolish. Essentially, the quality of MPs in Scotland – and Wales, for that matter – is even lower than it is in London. But devolution will be hard – impossible? – to reverse. So, Labour will surely get back their fiefdom north of the border. Helping Mr Starmer into power at the next general election.

A UK judge has pronounced that using the phrase “back in your day” in respect of an older workplace colleague could be considered age harassment and, so, unlawful. According to this judge: This barbed and unwelcome expression used to highlight an age gap could amount to unwanted conduct. And that: Older workers could sue under discrimination law because it related to age. A satirical columnist notes here, that, these days, You just can’t say something wholly valid to someone’s face and expect to get away with it. It pays to be nice. And possibly a lot more to be not-nice.

The USA

This is the real causes, it says here, of the dreadful crime rate in the country.

The Way of the World

A headline asks: Just how did a £600 pair of nylon knickers become the hottest property in fashion? These are made by Miu Miu – ‘cheap’ Prada stuff, by the way – and are the 3rd-hottest fashion item in the world, having sparked sparked a new obsession with underwear as outerwear. They are said to be very similar to Speedos, skimpy swimming briefs popular back in the 70s and 80s:

Quote of the DayOnly Miu Miu could make ‘budgie smugglers’ popular again. Not to mention the rich idiots who buy them.

English

Reader James wonders if the British exhortation Keep your pecker up! is much used these days. Not in the USA, I’d hazard a guess. James usefully adds that, in this case, your pecker is your nose. So you’re being encouraged to keep your head up, not let it hang down dolefully. Not that this will impress Americans who’ve doubled up in laughter..

Finally . . .

My non-functioning HP PC is just over 2.5 years old. It’ll cost me 150-200 quid to replace ‘surging’ bits on the motherboard. Together with the purchase price, this will come to what I would have paid to have my 3 year old Mac repaired instead of buying said PC laptop. Not doing so looks now – with hindsight – as the wrong decision. Given that my previous Mac lasted 8 years, the question arises of whether laptops are less reliable these days than they used to be. If not, I am just unlucky/jinxed?

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.

If  you’re thinking of moving to Spain, go to one of my early April posts to see a link to an excellent guide on this.