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

Unsurprisingly, the president of the Valencian region thinks it’s ‘irrelevant’ that he had a 3 hour lunch while the floodwaters were already rising and that it’s not the time for talk of resignations. This could well turn out to be the 12th of never. He hasn’t yet pronounced on his cancellation last year of the emergency service and possibly won’t ever get round to this. Let’s see what his parliamentary appearance in 2 days’ time brings. Apart from the inevitable self-exculpatory sophistry. And attacks on the central government under a different party.

Another glowing report of Spain’s macro economic performance, under – of all things – a socialist government. I wondered if Spain had become a net contributor to the EU coffers, and found this had happened in 2023, with Spain becoming one of the 9 (of 27) members to have this status, after being one of the largest net beneficiaries of EU funds since joining in 1986, and after being the largest absolut net beneficiary between 2000 and 2006. [This is now Poland, btw – another economic success of recent years].

A sense of humour bypass?

Over the years, I’ve occasionally cited Spanish individualism, something which many writers have commented on over the decades. I’ve even gone so far as to accuse the (lovely) Spanish of being thought-less when it comes to others. Here’s an example – 2 cars both parked from from the ends of the bay and from each other, denying space to a 3rd car in a city where parking is difficult.

Actually, it’s a bus stop. So they might have saved someone a fine . .

The EU

The BBC asks a very good question – If train travel is so much better than air travel, why is it so difficult and expensive In Europe? [Not to mention the even-more-expensive UK].

The USA

• Interesting that Trump’s stopped talking about the presidential election again being stolen. I don’t think he’s even claimed that Republican efforts at polling stations prevented this. Clearly, there’s a time tor lies and a time for staying schtum. As The Byrds almost once said
• Putin is said to have humiliated Trump, via a TV program about his wife. Excerpts here and here. I wonder if the commentator would have smiled so much during a documentary about Putin’s illegitimate kids. Or about the contribution of Russians to porn channels.

Russia v. Ukraine

A few comments seen this morning:-

• Putin is rushing to recapture Kursk before Trump takes office.
• A catastrophe is imminent in Kurakhove.
• Ukraine is losing ground and the Nato allies are letting this happen.
• By the time of Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, if the Russian military plans succeed, the situation will be irrecoverable.
• Trump’s asserts that he intends to bring about an immediate end to the war and J. D. Vance has suggested a demilitarised zone could be set up, with Moscow keeping control of the territory it has conquered and Ukraine continuing to receive US weapons to guard against a new Russian invasion.

Not looking good for Ukraine, then.

China

Trump’s tariffs will bring China to the point of collapse, says this columnist. As ever, opinions will differ,. Especially among economists, who claim to be able to make reliable predictions. Unlike, say, pollsters.

AGW

Another contrary opinion on the role of AGW in the devastating Spanish floods.

English

• Parsiflage: A word that came to mind this morning, when reading the comments of Valencian politicians. 1. Light, bantering talk or writing. 2. A frivolous or flippant style of treating a subject. Not quite right. I admit.
• Sennight: A word rarely seen or heard these days, meaning a week (‘7 nights’). Good to see it here. It’d be nice to see it make a comeback but the trouble is we Anglos prefer shorter words and it’s longer than ‘week’.

Did you know?

The legacy of George Orwell – a giant of English socio-political commentary – is ‘complex’. BTW, although a socialist, Orwell was particularly critical of hypocritical left-wing intellectuals who claimed to champion the working class but were often disconnected from the realities and values of ordinary people. Plus ça change. Think Clinton and Harris. And possibly all modern Progressives. It’s certainly an accusation long levied at the Labour Party in the UK.

A propos, here’s Bernie Saunders ‘ripping apart’ the Dems.

You Have to Laugh. Or at least smile . . .

Not quite Tinder, or even Bumble . . .TO WIDOWERS AND SINGLE GENTLEMEN. — WANTED by a lady, a SITUATION to superintend the household and preside at table. She is Agreeable, Becoming, Careful, Desirable, English, Facetious, Generous, Honest, Industrious, Judicious, Keen, Lively, Merry, Natty, Obedient, Philosophic, Quiet, Regular, Sociable, Tasteful, Useful, Vivacious, Womanish, Xantippish*, Youthful, Zealous, &c. Address X. Y. Z., Simmond’s Library, Edgeware-road. – The Times, 1842.

*”Xantippish” describes someone who exhibits qualities associated with Xanthippe, who became proverbial for being a scolding and quarrelsome wife. Specifically: Nagging or scolding behavior: A quarrelsome or ill-tempered nature: Peevish or irritable disposition

Finally . . .

I gained a kilo during my 2 week road trip. Worth it but one can see how hedonists get so huge over time.

And at least this time my house wasn’t burgled when I was away . . .

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts, either after reading on line or in my FB group Thoughts from Galicia.

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. If you do this but don’t read the posts, I will delete your subscription. So perhaps don’t bother if you have other reasons for subscribing . . .
• 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. And this article ‘debunks claims re wealth and residency taxes’. Probably only relevant if you’re a HNWI. In which case, you’ll surely know what that stands for.