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

Given all the positive headlines about Spain’s macro economic growth, this news comes as a bit of a shock. But, then, we know that – down at the micro level – things aren’t that good. The rich might be getting richer but . . .

Both of the local newspapers I skimmed through this morning had a 16 page insert from the Catholic Church, stressing how much good it does in various fields. The reason for it became clear on page 14 – the tax return season for last year has begun and there’s a box on the form which allows you to approve of a small percentage of taxes due being given to the Church. This was supposed to have stopped decades ago but hasn’t. Likewise, the absolute amount of money handed over by the State to the Church was supposed to have gradually reduced to nothing. But it hasn’t. Quite the contrary. It remains powerful, notwithstanding its disappearance from the media.

Cousas de Galicia

I took a sad decision last night – to avoid at least until October what has been my favourite eating and watering hole in Pv city for more than 20 years. I am a close friend of the owner and he totally deserves the success that comes with stellar reviews on the internet. But last night – at the end of March! – it was already impossible to get at seat at 7pm on the terrace. Inside, things were better but English dominated the chats around me and, rightly or wrongly, I dislike this. Fortunately, I found that a place I favoured many years ago is not plagued by ‘pilgrims’ and, even better, they treated me like a long-lost friend. Which I guess I am. I will return to my ex-favourite from time to time to eat/drink with friends and relatives but I must remember that, these days, a reservation is imperative. And that partaking of just a wine or a beer while I read my book twice a day is no longer welcome there. Absolutely no blame can attach to anyone for this but, as I say, it saddened me. Damn the Camino!

Portugal

As with Spain, Portugal “is cautious about joining Europe’s defence splurge”. And this despite Portugal having a centre-right government. This contrasts with Spain’s socialist/”far-left’’ coalition government. These tend to think more about spending on people rather than weapons. Which, some would say, you can only do if someone else pays to protect your people against real or perceived threats.

The EU

France

Richard North feels that Madame Le Pen is being stitched up. On the evidence he presents, he has a case. Either way, it’s unlikely this development will go down well with the Leader of UnFree World, who’s bound to see it as more evidence of an attack on his concept of democracy. Which is everyone is free to do whatever he wants them to do.

The USA – Other Clowns

• Says the right-wing Wall St. Journal here: RFK Jr. Is Already Vindicating His Critics. Shrinking the HHS makes sense, but giving power to the anti-vaccine crusader David Geier doesn’t.
• Let’s hope this isn’t an April Fool’s joke . . .

I’m an American – this is why we’re moving to Spain (and it’s not just Trump).

Russia

How Trump’s angry threats are being perceived there.

The Way of the World/Social Media

Astonishing . . . News that a pupil has been suspended for breaking a nursery’s sexual orientation and gender policy proves the trans lobby has become a cult. What kind of warped teacher brands a toddler transphobic?

Spanish

• Yonqui: Junkie
• Yanqui: Yankee
• Yonqui yanqui: Musk?

You Have to Laugh

A fairly typical prayer, albeit one from centuries ago? Or a spoof? . . . Oh Lord, Thou knowest that I have lately purchased an estate in Essex. I beseech Thee to preserve the two counties of Middlesex and Essex from fire and earthquakes; and as I have also a mortgage at Hertfordshire, I beg of Thee also to have an eye of compassion on that county, and for the rest of the counties, ive a prosperous voyage and safe return to the sloop Mermaid  because I have not insured it, and because Thou has said, ‘The days of the wicked are but short’, I trust in Thee that Thou wilt not forget Thy promise, as I have an estate which will be mine on the death of the profligate young man. preserve me from thieves and housebreakers, and make all my servants so honest and faithful that they may always attend to my interest and never cheat me out of my property night or day.

Finally . .

If you enjoyed any or all of that, here’s an article on the Persian poetic tradition.

As it’s the start of the month . . .  Some readers, I hope, will know that the verse I cite at the top of my posts is the opening quatrain of Fitzgerald’s wonderful – but very ‘free’ – translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, which you can read about here. Some verses are well known, of course, eg:-

The moving finger writes; and, having writ,
moves on: nor all thy piety nor wit
shall lure it back to cancel half a line,
Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.

My favourite:-

Myself when young did eagerly frequent
doctor and saint, and heard great argument
about it and about: but evermore
came out by the same door as in I went.

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 . . .
• I can also be read on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/colin.davies.752861 or on Substack at https://doncolin.substack.com/
• 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. But see here on this. 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.
• Getting a mortgage in Spain: Some advice on this challenge.