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 Galicia/España

An amazing feat by a Spanish chap.

The VdG on the Spanish element of the EU parliamentary elections . . .The PP wins, the extreme right rises: The PP won the European elections. There were 61 seats at stake for Spain and 22 of them have been for the Popular Party, nine more than they had in the outgoing Parliament. The socialists lose one seat and are left with 20. Meanwhile, far to the right, Vox has added representatives, but a new player has taken away its support: Se Acabó La Fiesta, the party created by the ultra “agitator” and “instagramer” Luis Alvite, Alvise, will have three seats in the European Parliament. In the end, the result does not change the map of national politics. The BNG will have a place in Europe.

Here’s Lenox Napier on the Spanish results.

Portugal

News of a super wine tour, which the writer surely got for nowt.

The Post-Elections EU

Here’s a quick overview from Richard North.

Germany

Said here to be in crisis

Belgium

Has also been having an entertaining time. Not content with just having the Euro-elections, it has also been running national and regional elections, with the national government, headed by liberal prime minister Alexander De Croo, losing its ability to form a majority. De Croo, who is now set formally to hand his resignation to the King today, will remain caretaker prime minister until a new coalition, currently involving seven parties, is formed. That may take a little time but, in a country, which famously went without a government for 652 days from December 2018 to October 2020, there should be no great hardship for the citizens.

France

President Macron’s decision to call parliamentary elections left French commentators bewildered at what one described as an act of political suicide. Some analysts believe Macron is taking a calculated risk to stop Le Pen from succeeding him but there are other theories, of course.

The UK

Teaching in the UK is not the profession it was, as this article demonstrates.

A city for which I have great affection, if only for the memory of visiting it on a beautiful sunny day with my – equally beautiful – first love. It was never quite the same on my later visits.

Russia

As President Putin stews at all the perceived injustices he faces on the world stage, there is one that appears to particularly rankle: Russia’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So, Russia has its own version, said here to be cringeworthy but not camp. So, nowhere as near as much fun as the real things. For some.

Here’s the pop star Shaman here with song “Vstanem” (“Rise Up”), released in February 2022 on the eve of the invasion. It was dedicated to Russian soldiers who’ve died and was seen as supporting the war effort. I had wondered it it was dedicated to WW2 soldiers. Not to those about to die.

This columnist asks how likely Putin is to use nuclear weapons. Short answer – WTF knows?

Quotes of the Day

• On an e-bike, you’re a berk on a weaponised plaything.
  
• No political party can take its voters for granted. Those that do, harm not just themselves but erode trust in democracy itself.

Net Zero

The impact of those EU elections.

Did you know?

An AI search confirms my suspicion that in the UK night-time/early morning is the peak time for rainfall frequency, particularly in the autumn and winter months.

Finally . .

As I’ve said, I currently live in a pretty heavily Asianised barrio. Where the stuff in the grocery shops is wonderful. It’s called Heald Green and, despite the obviously high number of Asian houseowners, it’s far from being like the ‘ghettoes’ of Lancashire and Yorkshire. For one thing, there are no would-be local councillors seeking election on a ‘Gaza ticket’. Nonetheless local wags refer to it as ‘Halal Green’.

Finally, finally . . .

Heard on the radio this morning . . . I’m thinking of writing a book on how to build a large room underground. I’m sure it’ll be a big seller.

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.
• 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. Finally, some advice on getting a mortgage.