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

Nationwide protests about the growing non-affordability of residential property.

The growth of a particular type of property . . . for those at the other end of the economic spectrum.

Lenox Napier tell us here of the fun which wild boars are now giving him.

Cousas de Galicia

Courtesy of the Autodidact Professor, an important local king. Not exactly of Galicia but of the next-door region (autonomous community) of Asturias.

Portugal

Nice places that might not be being missed for much longer.

The USA

Those infernal TV gameshow tariffs . . . .

Trump wants to rescue US jobs but ‘America first’ will backfire. Some of the biggest victims of the president’s protectionism will be his own voters . . . Maybe Mr Trump knows what he is doing in challenging economic orthodoxies so comprehensively, and will end up being vindicated. But it’s one hell of a gamble, and one that is neither necessary nor wise.

I guess the folk at The Economist should know . . .

• Headline: President Trump’s mindless tariffs will cause economic havoc. But the rest of the world can limit the damage.
• Opening para: If you failed to spot America being looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far or it being cruelly denied a turn to prosper, then congratulations you have a firmer grip on reality than the president of the United States. It’s hard to know which is more unsettling – that the leader of the free world could spout complete drivel about its most successful and admired economy. Or the fact that on April 2nd, spurred on by his delusions, Donald Trump announced the biggest break in America’s trade policy in over a century—and committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era.
• Read on here . . . I guess it will end in MAGA tears . . .

Another Trump word/phrase favoured by 6 year olds . . . Bad/bad things

Amusing to see that Trump has given Vance the priority of ridding zoos of improper ideology, whatever that might be.

Quote of the Day

Almost everything Mr Trump said this week—on history, economics and the technicalities of trade—was utterly deluded. 

Russia v Ukraine

• Trump’s brilliant negotiating skills don’t seem to be recognised by Moscow. Negotiations appear to be stalled – something which seems to be Russia’s main objective.
• Possibly true . . . Putin is in real trouble on multiple fronts. Pushing Trump back is folly or brinkmanship. . . . A disappointed President Trump is a very dangerous and unpredictable beast. Vladimir Putin would be wise to realise that. 

 Spanish

• No puedes saltar . . . : Don’t mis . . . [Lit. Don’t jump (over)]
• Amilanar: To daunt, unnerve, intimidate
• Sinsabores: Troubles, disappointments, sorrows

British

Do you find Brits hard to understand, given that: Their conversations are strewn with polite-isms that attempt to conceal seething resentment, frustration or irritation? If so, this might help. But, if you can’t face the entire article, here’s a list of the favourite polite phrases used by Brits for saying what they don’t mean.

The 20 most popular polite but misleading phrases

• Ooh, could I just squeeze past you? = Could you move out of my way!
• Sounds fun, I’ll let you know. = I’m not coming.
• I beg your pardon? = I’m fuming.
• Sorry I’m a bit busy right now. = Please leave me alone.
• No rush, when you have a minute. = Please hurry up.
• With all due respect. = You’re wrong, and here’s why.
• As per my last email. = I already told you this.
• Sorry, could you say that last bit again? = I wasn’t listening to a word you were saying.
• I hear what you’re saying. = I completely disagree with you.
• Not to worry! = This is a disaster, but I’ll pretend everything is fine.
• I’ll bear it in mind. = I’ll forget about this immediately.
• It could be worse. = It’s pretty much the worst thing that’s ever happened.
• That’s one way of looking at it. = You’re wildly off the mark.
• Just a gentle reminder. = I can’t believe you haven’t done this.
• Happy to help. = I’m having to help, when I really don’t want to.
• Appreciate if you could let me know either way. = I can’t believe you haven’t replied to me.
• I’m sure it’s just me, but … = This is entirely your fault, but I’m softening the blow.
• It’s not bad, actually. = It’s surprisingly tolerable, considering my low expectations.
• Happy to discuss. = I can’t think of anything worse than discussing this further.
• Interesting idea. = That’s a really terrible idea.

American

• Spitball: 1: Paper chewed and rolled into a ball to be thrown or shot as a missile, 2: A baseball pitch delivered after the ball has been moistened with saliva or sweat, 3. Verb: To propose (ideas, suggestions, etc.) for consideration in an informal, preliminary way.
• Lower-forty: A type of jeep [I think]
• Sounder: A herd of wild hogs[=pigs].

Did You Know?

The critical Anglos v The Rest 10th century battle of Brunanburh really did take place near Bromborough on the Wirral, where friends of mine live. My thanks to reader Perry for the video. And here’s a second one, with a lot more historical detail.

Finally . . . You Have to Laugh

I recently wrote re Siro, Alexa and Hey, Google. So, this appealed:-

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.