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 Spanish socialist ‘statesman’ says that the autocratic PM is fomenting division in Spain. As if his help were really necessary . . . Alfonso Guerra believes that the PM’s presidential style,  his threats to curb the press and his deals with separatists are incompatible with democracy. And that he has caused a serious deterioration of Spain international image. Is this really true, I wonder.

One or 2 readers have said that Sánchez is the President of the government and not, officially, the Prime Minister. I did an AI search on primer ministro and was told: La expresión primer ministro (o primera ministra) es la más adecuada en español para referirse al jefe (o la jefa) del Gobierno de un país”. But, as regards Spain – thought maybe not any South American state – this might only mean when the position is referred to in English. As advised here.

HT to Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for these 5 items:-

• From Crónica Libre: “We manage Manos Limpias.” The audios that demonstrate that
  the PP has controlled the far-right organization since as long ago as 2014’
• From El Economista: ‘Spain’s economy is flying: GDP beats all forecasts due to the surge
  in investment and exports. The economy grows 0.7% quarterly and defies all forecasts’.
• From the RTVE: ‘The public deficit falls 33% in the first quarter, to 667 million
  euros’.
• From Reuters: ‘Spain sees US-style economic boost from immigrant workers’. Spain is seeing a virtuous circle where an influx of foreign workers is boosting the supply of labour and raising its economic growth rate – a rare feat in the European Union’ and that ‘Skilled immigrants are helping Spain’s economy outpace European peers’.
• ‘Spanish Village’: W. Eugene Smith’s landmark photo essay for Life magazine.

Statistically, Italy, France and Germany are worse than Spain for pickpockets. Though this might be something you should ignore if visiting Barcelona or Madrid. Anyway, this is a guide on how to minimise the risk wherever you go.

The EU

That problem of unwanted immigrants . . .

The UK & Ireland

The Irish Times promotes the re-unification of Ireland. You might be surprised to learn that most non-Northern-Irish Brits would probably support this.

The Way of the World

John Cleese – who is better qualified to opine than most –  has complained that: The “literal-minded” have ruined comedy because they don’t understand irony, metaphor or exaggeration. And he has bemoaned the dearth of good comedy, contrasting the “30 rather funny comedies” on TV in the early 1990s with “one or two” being broadcast nowadays. Literal-minded people can only have one interpretation of what is being said.”. More here.

Jerry Seinfeld has similar views.

En passant . . . They made classic films and sold out vast arenas, but Michael Palin thinks Monty Python peaked with a 30-second skit on BBC2. He claims the summit of their achievement was “The Fish Slapping Dance”, as that’s the sketch that conquered the world. It has Palin repeatedly prancing up to John Cleese and slapping him in the face with 2 pilchards before Cleese produces a large pike and knocks Palin into the water. “That works anywhere on the planet, even North Korea,” Palin said. He says he showed it to his interpreter there, who laughed heartily. She then incredulously asked: “So, this is what you do?”

This has reminded me that British comedian Norman Wisdom was hugely popular in Iran and Albania and why Benny Hill is the only British comedian ever to ‘conquer’ the USA.

On the subject of comedy I’ve recently stumbled across 5 Storeys High – slightly surreal sitcom from 2002, written by and starring a brilliant comedian who died not so long ago, far too young. Recommended, though not everyone will like it, of course.

Quote of the Day

Kate Forbes [a challenger for the position of Scottish First Minister] is known to be honest, competent and – by the standards of Scottish nationalism – moderate. So naturally, she didn’t stand a chance. For days  – [before pulling out] – she was deluged by a torrent of the bigotry and misogyny which “progressive” people so specialise in. John Swinney – [the successful, if sole, candidate] – parrots the usual guff about a modern and progressive Scotland. He claimed he wanted to get the party ready for independence, which is a bit like vowing to make a Nissan Micra ready for interplanetary space travel.

Do You Know?

The hottest new restaurant trend: a mushroom room. London’s chefs are all about locally sourced ingredients, so much so that they are growing their own — inside the dining room.

Did You know

Why Man [and Woman] likes to kill.

Finally . . .

Norman Wisdom was famous for being careful with money. I once saw him in Manchester airport waiting to board the same low-cost flight to Spain as me and my family.

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.