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

Boy, was the Spanish media upset about Real Madrid’s thrashing by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final of last night. El País described it as ignominious, shameful even. Real will surely be itching for revenge in the 2nd leg. Spanish pride is at stake. Here’s one UK paper on the (OTT?) Spanish reaction to the national ‘humiliation’.

A Spanish friend was telling me – possibly influenced by many years in the UK – how much she hates the Spanish propensity to cancel confirmations at the last minute. Especially if one has gone to quite some trouble for a lunch or dinner. It struck me later that, such is the low rate of home-entertaining in Spain, that there’s almost no instinctive understanding of how much work can go into this. And, so, how irritating cancellations can be. We are all victims of our experience, as they say. Or the lack of it.

Cousas de Galicia

HT to Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for the citation of this story of a Galician whom Franco – also a Galician – had executed, so that he could seize his business. With the death of Jose Miñones – a pioneer, and a visionary – there passed an exceptional businessman with whom Galicia might have been completely different from the land we have now. Sadly, we will never know.

Europe

One effect of the Sino-US “collision” is that China’s “frosty relationship” with the EU is slowly thawing.

The New York Times describes the EU strategy as responding [To Trump] with a “handshake and a punch”, telling the USA that Europe wants to negotiate. But it is also trying to project strength. “It’s a gamble”, the paper says, as Trump has warned nations against retaliation. The strategy “could be perilous”.

The USA

Trouble at t’ mill . . . Boys being boys, transparently. For which we should all be grateful, apparently. You almost have to admire the White House Press Secretary- Karoline Leavitt – for her relentless attempts to turn sows’ ears into silk purses. There’ll always be a job for her in Moscow, Beijing. Tehran or Pyongyang.

Good news? . . . Maga is shattering before America’s eyes. Donald Trump reigns like a great Ju-Ju from a mountain made of many tribes. Supporting him in his glory is an unlikely coalition of blue-collar workers, redneck hillbillies, Gen Z men, conservatives, Latinos and Hispanics, black voters, disaffected female Democrats, evangelicals, Catholics, and, in the filthier corners, those who chant “Russia is our friend” and have flown the swastika flag. The recent protests across America are a sign that the magic mountain is wobbling. As time goes by, Trump’s election is increasingly looking like a one-off miracle that is unlikely to survive contact with the sort of reality Trump is beginning to unleash upon his supporters.

Undue pessimism or the reality – at least until Trump goes? Trump won’t back down. He wanted to create this mayhem. The world of free trade and globalisation is over; the world of protectionism and tariffs is here to stay. . . Trump’s trade policy – tariffs – is central to a much larger project which in turn is what the administration is about [Project 2025, we can assume]. They will not abandon it. The economic pain and chaos it will cause are accepted as a necessary side effect. In some ways it is welcomed as a sign it is working. . . . We are, by design, being ushered into a neo-mercantilist world of protectionist trade blocs. This is really bad news. Read and weep. And hope that Trump dies, one way or another. And that Vance is less of a believer. Though the evidence is to the contrary.

Russia v Ukraine

Putin is still bombing and Trump is still raging and threatening. Perhaps they aren’t quite as good friends as the latter insists they are. And perhaps Putin is not as stupid as Trump is. Then again, who is?

China

As you’d expect, still refusing to bend the knee to a man who knows only one negotiating tactic – called in domestic matters ‘percussive engineering’. Hitting things with a hammer. As someone has – said, the damage to both economies might well be huge but Xi’s people – for obvious reasons – will be ‘willing’ to stand far more pain that Trump’s will before there’s a revolt.

Quote of the Day

We are embroiled in the mother of all trade wars, which promises to be the most intense example of a trade war since trade wars began. . . . This administration is led by a president who is either mad as a box of frogs, or endowed with a degree of cunning of which Machiavelli could only dream. Which of the two, I don’t believe matters – the outcome will probably be the same, shaking up the world order to an unprecedented degree. It might not be advisable though to invest in frog futures.

Spanish

It’s not uncommon for folk here in Galicia to use the Spanish for To go’’ – Ir – in this way: Voy viendo. Literally ‘I go coming’ but meaning ‘I’m coming‘. I suspect the influence of Gallego. María will know

Did You Know?

John Everett Millais was a renowned British artist of the 19th century and a founder member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brothers. So good was he at the art business that he entered the prestigious Royal Academy aged only 10 and the following year won the Gold Medal of the Antique School. ‘The Child’ was the darling of the institution, destined it would seem, by nature for all its honours; but little did those approving academicians know that in a glance that had passed was the first spark of a mighty rebellion. The Pre-Raphaelite movement.

You Have to Laugh

Excerpts from letters received by UK pensions office, quoted in a book of 2002:-

• Mrs R. has no clothes, has not had any for many years. The clergy have been visiting her.
• In reply to your letter, I have already cohabited with your officers, so far without any result.
• You have changed my little boy to a little girl. Will this make any difference?
• Please send money at once, as I have fallen in errors with my landlord.
• I have no children, as my husband is a bus-driver and works all day and night.
• In accordance with your instructions, I have given birth to twins in the enclosed envelope.
• I have been in bed with the doctor for a week, and he does not seem to be doing me any good. If things don’t improve I shall have to get another doctor.
• Milk is wanted for the baby, and the father is unable to supply it.
• The teeth on top are all right, but the ones in my bottom are hurting terribly.

Today Through the Ages

Courtesy of the Autodidact Professor.

Finally . . .

As an admirer of wolves, I was sure to see this as excellent news.

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.