Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts
the stars to flight.
And, lo, the hunter of the east 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

The government plans to raise taxes on holiday lets and to get harsher with fraudulent renters and platforms.

Lenox Napier tell us a bit about his patria chica, Mojácar, here.

My decision to come to Spain 24 years ago was one of my best I’ve made and I’ve often said that Spain is the best of the 6 cultures I’ve lived in. (I say ‘lived in’ because I might have a different view, if I’d ever worked here). One of the negatives when I came in 2000 was a level of customer service that was lower than elsewhere. Indeed, it seemed hard to get things done other than by face-to-face appointments. Things have improved, of course, but it sometimes seems as if companies have got excellent at the easy stuff – sending (cheap) emails – but have yet to improve the fundamentals. Case in point – I have written to both HP’s technical service agent in Galicia and to the central tech service folk in Madrid, seeking an estimate for a new motherboard for the laptop that ceased working after only 16 months. Neither of them has responded, after several days. Even with just an acknowledgment of the request. If this continues, I’ll be forced to take out a mortgage to get my Mac repaired . . . I should say that the (face-to-face) service in an IT shop in Pv city was excellent. Which rather proves my point.

One Final in which Real Madrid didn’t make a very late comeback. To say the least.

Cousas de Galicia

Galicia ‘now has almost 9,000 shops lying empty. This is 20% up on 2 years ago and represents 10% of the total. The task of converting at least some of these into much-needed flats seems to be proceeding without any sense of urgency. Down to Spanish bureaucracy?

Germany

The CDU leader is most likely to become chancellor in the February election, and he plans shock treatment for the ailing economy, it says here. Needless to say, some economists say it won’t work.

The USA

Steve Bannon used to be Trump’s number 1 mate but now isn’t. His view of Musk: Racist and truly evil. He’s vowed to get rid of him before January 20. So . . . Gladiator 3.

Rust belt voters on why they backed Trump again, despite his broken promises. ses

Russia

Probably best not to stand by a window if you’re caught laughing at this in Russia . .

Quote of the 20th century

Adolf Hitler, to his 2 secretaries at 4am on the morning of 15 March 1939, just after the Czech government had, under duress, accepted the imposition of a German ‘protectorate’ over its country: Kiss me, girls. This is the happiest day of my life. I have achieved what many have tried but failed to do. I will go down in history as the greatest German of them all. Wrong on more than one count, as it happens.

Quote of the Day

Like it or like it not – and as the newish Labour government in the UK is finding out (again) – The bond markets are more powerful than presidents or popes.

Spanish

• Desparpajo: Cheek, self-confidence, impudence, pertness, nonchalence, audacity, sassiness, nerve, brashness.
• Trúculis: This seems to be Gallego for ‘a little trick. As in: La superstición está siempre presente de una manera u otra. Sea por creencia genuina, por costumbre o por seguir con el folclore, raro es el que no mantiene alguna costumbre “trúculis”, desde poner unas hierbas en agua la noche de San Juan hasta asegurar haber visto a la Santa Compaña; la creencia extendida es que por si acaso, mejor permanecer conectados con el mundo mágico porque, ya se sabe, esto es como las meigas, habelas, hailas.
• Brochazo: Brushstroke, dab

You have to Laugh

Finally . . .

The main page for the Edge browser throws up endless clickbait lists. Today’s was: 16 warning signs you are becoming an unlikeable person. I very rarely click on them and I decided that this one certainly wasn’t for opening. Just in case.

Finally, Finally . . .

Apologies to subscribers (ie early receivers) for the glitch in yesterday’s post. WordPress can be a bugger to manage, doing things I don’t want it to do that I sometimes fail to pick up. Too clever for its own good. Sometimes I yearn for the simplicity of (free) Blogger.

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts.

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.