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/Galicia

This morning saw the first of the Pamplona bull-runs. Thanks to a couple of recalcitrant beasts who caused a lot of fun in the ring, this took twice as long as usual. All of 4m7s. It always slightly surprises me to see that the cows which guide the bulls down to the ring are taller than those destined to die. But very much thinner in the neck.

While I was in the UK, it seems a law came into force here in Spain requiring all plastic bottle tops to stay attached after opening. As this then makes using the bottle troublesome, the first thing anyone sensible does is rip the top off by force.

It’s no great surprise to read that Compostela Resiste is taking exception to the bad behaviour exhibited by some of the c.500,000 ‘pilgrims’ who crowd into their city every year. The range of Camino walkers is now rather wide.

And talking of nuisances . . . The fearlessly voracious seagull was at it again in Plaza de Leña last night in Pv city. I can’t say I was surprised to read in today’s Diario de Pontevedra that this year the council hasn’t taken the usual measures aimed at curbing the number of pigeons and seagulls in the city. When they re-start, they could do worse than to begin with this one.

Talking of that particular square . . . I suspect everyone can imagine what a guided group of 30+ tourists looks like but, just in case, I offer this foto, taken at 11.30 this morning:-

There are bigger ones, by the way.

The UK

Again, possibly more than most readers want to see on the UK general elections . . .

I mentioned ‘electorate madness’. Here’s an article headed: The 2024 election results are among the most bizarre in British history – and the future could be stranger still. Some other points from it:-

• Labour’s electoral coalition could well suffer a similar fate unless the new government is a a demonstrable success.
• Despite the brisk and efficient change of power, the results indicate a crisis in the relationship between government and governed.

And here’s the major points from this article, entitled Starmer’s Hollow Victory:-

• Starmer’s ‘historic’ parliamentary majority is based on a historically low turnout and a historically low vote share for a victorious party of government. This Labour victory seems to have everything – except voters. . . . 
• Labour’s modest, roughly 2-point rise in vote share is almost entirely down to its stunning surge in Scotland. In Wales, Labour’s vote share has fallen by 4 points. In England, it has not budged at all. So, the Labour Party has more or less stood still, while the Tory vote has collapsed, thanks to an insurgent Reform UK to its right.
• There’s a yawning difference between securing a majority by default and securing a ringing, democratic endorsement for your programme for government. Because this isn’t that. Not least because Starmer has been alarmingly vague about what he plans to do in government.
• Starmer is the least popular opposition leader to win an election in recorded history. The honeymoon period will be non-existent.

From the same journal: Populism is here to stay.

Michael Deacon is a satirical columnist on the (right-of-centre) Daily Telegraph. His task is ‘to mock the absurdities of the modern world’. Instead of giving the link, here’s an entire piece on the election which amused me. I believe I only do one of the things listed, and that not very often these days . .

Sir Keir Starmer will no doubt call his spectacular landslide a victory for “working people”. In reality, however, it’s a victory for a much smaller, and far more specific, group. The Sub-Lineker Sensibles. You know who I mean. They’re the type who will rejoice that “the grown-ups” are now “back in the room”. Who are forever sagely averring that the answer to any complex problem “probably lies somewhere in the middle”, and that we just need to be more “nuanced” (i.e. vague, timid and waffly). Who deplore the “divisiveness” of the “culture wars”, by which they mean issues that they’re too frightened to express their real opinion about in case it arouses the displeasure of people more fashionable than they are.

They’re the type of people who vigorously applaud Alastair Campbell every time he rails, with a completely straight face, against the shocking lack of honesty and integrity in modern politics. Who tweet that their “fantasy Cabinet” would feature Ian Hislop, Emily Maitlis, Hugh Grant and Carol Vorderman. Who believe that, if the BBC is being “attacked by both sides”, then it “must be doing something right”. Who mock the “gammon” for believing everything they read in the Daily Mail, while themselves believing everything they read in the Byline Times. Whose most frequent and vociferous complaint about Brexit is that it’s made the queues longer at airports whenever they go on holiday to Europe. Who think that a supermarket printing a Union flag on a bag of carrots heralds the imminent rebirth of 1930s fascism – and yet appear to have nothing to say about the weekly spectacle of vast angry mobs marching through our streets, intimidating Jews.

They’re the type of people who love to use twee portmanteau swear words, such as “cockwomble” and “wankpuffin”, as if they’re pitching to be a scriptwriter for ‘The Thick of It’ 20 years too late. Who call Miriam Margolyes a “national treasure” because she says rude things about the Tories, unlike every other celebrity in Britain. Who chortle at lower-class people for owning sofa cushions embroidered with the vacuous motto “Live Laugh Love” – yet think it’s noble and profound to tweet #BeKind. Who never tire of pointing out that St George was Turkish, actually. Who still watch ‘Have I Got News for You’.

These are the people who are celebrating most gleefully today. Perhaps we should be gracious, and congratulate them on their dazzling success. After all, it’s their country now. In truth, though, it already was.

About that ‘Muslim sectarian insurgency’ that seems to have surprised many. And Jeremy Corbyn’s prophethood. Good question: As The Muslim Vote grows in power and confidence, will Labour have the guts to resist? My guess is no more so than with the emboldened transgender zealots.

Finally . . . An article which supports my contention the SNP should consign itself to the dustbin of history.

The USA

Dear god . . . Would you want this man as your uncle, never mind president of your country? Joe Biden: Only the Almighty can tell me to quit presidential race. He’s surely inspired to be this mad by the narcissism of his wife, described here.

Quotes of the Day – on the UK elections

• The UK’s political system is deeply flawed. The first-past-the-post only works when it is a 2-horse race. It is no longer a 2-horse race: there are sometimes 4 or 4, separated by only a handful of votes. It is absurd that Reform got more votes than the Lib Dems but not even a tenth of their seats. 
• Sojourn deep enough into the far-left and you always find factions that are more preoccupied with enforcing purity among the moderates on their own side than joining forces to attack the right. This time, however, the old dynamic has an Islamist lens.

Covid

Why is everyone getting it again? Answers here.

Did you know?

In 1974, a visit to the Tower of London cost 10 pence or 90 pence in today’s money; an adult ticket is now £34.80 – over 3,700% more.

Finally . .

What a good idea . . . Don’t throw away that tinned fish oil! Use it in this tasty dressing. The oil from a tin of fish is an umami bomb to be deployed in all sorts, from kedgeree and fry-ups to potato salad.

To amuse . . .

Finally, Finally . . .

I always tell my visitors: However warm it is at 6pm, if you’re going to dine in town, take a pullover or light jacket with you. Neglecting to heed my own advice last night, I suffered when the temperature dropped to 11 degrees by midnight. Bloody North wind. Fortunately, a (wise Galician) friend had brought both a pullover and a jacket. And I don’t suppose anyone noticed I was walking out of town in female apparel.

And this morning I neglected to heed my advice-to-self not to leave the door open when I go out to potter in the front garden. Fortunately, after the same bloody North wind had blown it shut behind me, I could (just about) remember where I hide the emergency key,

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.