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

I’ve noted over the years that – compared with Italy and Greece – Spain seems to get something of a free pass when it comes to discussion of political corruption around Europe. Which I guess would surprise most Spaniards, given the regular diet of cases we’re subjected to. Here’s Lenox Napier with his take on the latest case. And here’s the right-of-centre The Corner on the implications thereof.

Some headlines from 2 of our local papers today:-

• Political and other corruption – a banquet for insatiables.
• The Koldo case: “Typically Spanish”.
• Today’s politics: Pure theatre, lies and scandals.

As you might expect . . . The Spanish PM is fighting for his political life. My guess is he’ll stay in power. He is, after all, the consummate political survivor. 

An interesting perspective on the overtourism protests: Woke Europeans don’t want British tourists – but do want more refugees. Are they mad? These idiotic anti-tourism protests in Spain will only make local people poorer.

Because of Covid, unemployment in Spain soared to 27%, as staff were laid off and businesses closed but unemployment has since fallen to 11%. In large part, this has been thanks to a concerted effort to get older people into work. There are lessons for the UK, says this columnist. Perhaps from Madrid, which – he says – has taken a carrot-and-stick approach to getting more over-55s in the workforce.

Cousas de Galicia

Octopus is on the menu of every restaurant and tapería here in Galicia. But, sadly, the wet spring has led to a shortage of it in our seas. Astonishingly, the compensating factor is that there’s an abundance of these cephalopods in British waters. So, if you’re enjoying pulpo a la gallega [polbo á feira] here these days, it’s very likely there won’t be much gallego about it. Apart from the olive oil and paprika sauce. But neither of those comes from Galicia, I suspect. [Personal note: I don’t much like octopus, and the paprika-oil sauce is about the only one you can get in Galicia. I find it less than appetising, though good for making zorza, a slightly spicy pork dish, as it doesn’t overpower the meat.]

The USA

From the fingers of the man who is president of the USA and, among several other things, the world’s most powerful man. And, quite possibly, clinically insane:-

16 June 2025: I think we can say that my rant of yesterday [below] was the greatest of all time. In the entire History of the World. People are saying it was Perfect. That there’s never been anything like it. Neither Barrack Hussein Obama or Biden could ever Rant like this. Hopeless Ranters. Pathetic Losers. Biden was the worst and most Corrupt President in American History. I am the Best. Only I can Make America Great Again. And solve all the World’s Problems in 24 Hours. But give me about 2 Weeks. I might need to bring in the great Hannibal Lecter. And my Friend, Vladimir. Nothing bad in the World would ever have happened if I had been President since the Dawn of Time. Thank you for listening to the greatest Weave the World has ever Seen or Heard. God bless you, whoever he is. But not if you are Insane Leftie Communist America-hating Democratic Scum. Love from your Most Popular Ever President, DONALD J TRUMP – recently honored by a wonderful Procession attended by 10 Million America-loving Patriots who love Me even more than they love America. (P. S. Buy my new All-American Trump Mobile Phone while stocks last. Totally made in America. Honest. But don’t worry if you miss this Opportunity to enrich me. There’ll be another Scam along soon) . . .

15 June 2025: Our Nation’s ICE Officers have shown incredible strength, determination, and courage as they facilitate a very important mission, the largest Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History. Every day, the Brave Men and Women of ICE are subjected to violence, harassment, and even threats from Radical Democrat Politicians, but nothing will stop us from executing our mission, and fulfilling our Mandate to the American People. ICE Officers are herewith ordered, by notice of this TRUTH, to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.

In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside. These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens. These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities — And they are doing a good job of it! There is something wrong with them. That is why they believe in Open Borders, Transgender for Everybody, and Men playing in Women’s Sports — And that is why I want ICE, Border Patrol, and our Great and Patriotic Law Enforcement Officers, to FOCUS on our crime ridden and deadly Inner Cities, and those places where Sanctuary Cities play such a big role. You don’t hear about Sanctuary Cities in our Heartland!

I want our Brave ICE Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day. The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos. That’s why I have directed my entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia. Our Federal Government will continue to be focused on the REMIGRATION of Aliens to the places from where they came, and preventing the admission of ANYONE who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States.

To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE! DJT

Hard to believe but The Atlantic advises that Trump’s Truth Social posts are probably worse than you think they are and tells us us where we can see them, as they emerge from whatever orifice. On their own, each of these posts is concerning and more than a little sad. But consumed in the aggregate, they take on a different meaning, offering a portrait of a man who appears frequently incoherent, internet-addicted, and emotionally volatile—even by the extreme standard that Trump has already set. I’m not sure we need to read them to conclude that.

The Way of the World

Sydney Sweeney’s bathwater soap, named “Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss,” was launchedon June 6 and sold out almost instantly. The soap is made with her actual bathwater. Sweeney [a US actress] is the dream girl of the hour, just the right blend of animation and anomie for a generation addled by porn and Covid. Her perfect breasts seem to be the senior partners in the alliance, the rest of her following behind them enigmatically.

Spanish

• Culopollo: Chicken bum [Duck’s arse?]. Applied to a certain transport plane – the C-101.
• Jugador franquicia: Says my football-wise friend, Fran: El jugador más importante sobre el que se construye el equipo. Tanto a nivel deportivo como económico.
• Marrones: Messes, shady stuff, scandals. [The word of the moment?]

English

More bizarre Bertie Wooster words and phrases of the 1920s UK:-

Unknown. Might or might not have been common or upper class slang in the 1920s. I haven’t bothered to look up any of them:

• Napper: Head
• Lemon: Head
• Dome: Head
• Off one’s napper: Insane
• To snooter: To prevent someone from doing something. [Derived from ‘snooker’?]
• To gibber: To talk gibberish

Known: Some still in use, possibly. At least by my (boomer) generation:-

• Dash it all: An expression of frustration
• To repair: To go to bed
• Thither: There
• Dollop: Spoonful
• The dickens: An expression of surprise/exasperation. As in Who the dickens is that?
• To beetle off: To depart rapidly.[Might be a repeat]
• To go/be up the spout: To fail/have failed.

You Have to Laugh

Schoolkid exam howlers:-

• Q Define “sangfroid”.
• A. Bloody cold.

• Q. Who was Ferdinand Magellan?
• A. The first man to circumcise the world with a 40-foot clipper.

My own experience . . . Taking a group of teenagers around Pv city’s Old Quarter

• Q. Does anyone know who expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492?
• A. [Tentatively] Adolf Hitler?

Finally . . .

One day I will type the word interesting without missing at least one of the Es. Actually, I just did. But I was concentrating. . . So, doesn’t really count.

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

The Usual Links . . .

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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.
• This post of mine contains several relevant articles from ThinkSpain.
• 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.
• A comparison of UK and Spanish living costs.
• And here’s a personal guide to moving to Spain – to work, not to retire.
• Finally, from a tax lawyer: Everything you need to know about taxes and healthcare when retiring to Spain.