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 . .

Need I say that the right-wing journal The Corner isn’t satisfied with Sr Sánchez’s explanation of why he’s staying on as PM: The Spanish press that remains critical of the government is unanimous: “a farce”, “grotesque”, “a joke”… But no one is fooled. When he refuses to explain his wife’s business dealings and says that these 5 days mark “a turning point”, speaks of “cleanliness, of “democratic regeneration” and that “we will show the world how democracy is defended”, he means that he is tired of seeking an agreement with the opposition to renew the leadership of the judiciary and of putting up with the news about the business dealings of his wife, his brother, his former second in the PSOE. “Mudslinging” and “Defamation”, he says. So independent judges and critical press are deeply concerned. More here.

Or, as the The Times puts it: Pedro Sánchez threatens curbs on the media amid corruption claims against his wife.

Some beautiful walls here, courtesy of Fascinating Spain.

Thanks to kind readers, the mystery is explained. . . Spain has a (powerless) Head of State, a (powerful) Prime Minister and . . . a President of the Government. After a scare, Sr Sánchez is (still) both of the latter. As I imagine is always the case. Though perhaps not in theory. Oh, he’s also the leader of the governing PSOE party. So, that’s 4 salaries. Maybe. If so, a lucrative situation not to be given up lightly. BTW . . . Wiki tells me Sr S is not the President of the PSOE but only the Secretary General. Seems an opportunity missed.

Reader David points out that Spain is a country of Presidents, where – I suspect – the per capita ratio of these is the highest in the world. Unless this is something else exported to South America.  One can never have too many President titles here in Spain. I am, in fact, the President of my household. Though am not given the respect this title merits by family members. Or by the moles in the lawns. And the bloody moths.

Definitely not good news . . . Bowel cancer cases are rising among under-50s in Spain as the Mediterranean diet fades. Factors at work are obesity, antibiotic abuse, high alcohol consumption and changes to the microbiome to.

The UK

A lady who always amuses .  . . Surely this is proof that there’s nothing Russell Brand won’t do

Germany

Good grief. . . The ‘lazy’ Germans are warned they need to work harder. Figures revealing that they put in fewer hours than other industrial nations have led to soul-searching in Berlin, where: Ministers fear Germans are going soft on hard work.

The USA

What to do with wolves? Opinions differ. In western states like Wyoming, Idaho and Montana the fate of these animals can be as contentious as gun laws and reproductive rights, and they have been part of political ping-pong for decades.  . . .  The wolf issue, and the divide between rural conservatives and urban liberals, has similarities with the debate in the UK over fox hunting. Nowhere in Britain, however, is the hunting of a nationally registered endangered species legal. I’m with those who say wolf populations are essential for ensuring biodiversity. But, then, I don’t have any cows or sheep in my garden. Only moles.

Did You Know?

In a French journal, Oscar Wilde once saw the drawing of a bonnet. Under it were the words “With this style the mouth is worn slightly open.” Unless one had appalling teeth, I assume.

Finally . . .

I dreamt last night that I had cold and hot fusion reactors under my front lawn back in Galicia. Since I know zilch about these and can’t recall reading about them, I’ve no idea where this stimulus came from. And I wonder how many such ‘memories’ are lodged in my brain. For completion, here’s what an AI search gave me: Cold fusion remains a hypothetical and controversial concept, while hot fusion is the type of nuclear fusion that has been achieved in experimental fusion reactors, though it remains a significant scientific and engineering challenge to harness it as a practical energy source. So, now you can all dream of these. De nada/No hay de que.

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. F

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.