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

A roller-coaster between feast and famine is a frequent feature of property markets. The former seems to be the case in Spain at the moment, setting it apart from most other EU states.

A financial adviser – una asesoría – once told me not to make a voluntary declaration to the tax office ¨because they are crooks¨. I was reminded of this today when listening to someone talking about the case of Javier Chicote – a journalist who uncovered uncomfortable information re a government minister, as result of which he and his relatives were subjected to a thorough fiscal investigation that ultimately found no irregularities. This was seen as a case of harassment and persecution linked to his journalistic work. Spanish politics can be extremely dirty – there are shedloads of money at stake – and it´s no surprise to hear that the tax office can operate as a tool of the government. Or, at least, has done so in the past. Though some argue it still does, eg in the case of the partner of the presidenta of Madrid. For whom La Fiscalía has just sought 4 years in prison.

Cousas de Galiza

The DdP reported this morning that a dog had to be rushed to hospital yesterday, after eating a bag of cocaine left in Tafisa Park, where the BigSound concerts were held last week. I didn’t check if the owners’ insurance covered this. Or if they were arrested. Or if the dog had to wait 5-10 hours in Urxencias.

An update: No work has taken place during the last week on the pavement I drive past 4 times a day. I can´t see things changing in August. BUT: Work is progressing on the new commercial centre in O Vao, alongside the road to Vilagarcia, the narcocapital of Galicia.

Which reminds me . . . I had the classic roundabout experience this morning, when a driver in the outside lane but turning left – el modelo español – tried to cut across me to block my exit, blowing his horn at me when I prevented this. Fortunately, my window was open, so I could give him the appropriate gesture of ‘apology’.

THE MAGA REALITY TV SHOW

¨News¨

• It was reported that, for their official celebration foto, Chelsea FC airbrushed out the unwelcome guest on the dais – one Donald J Trump – but, sadly, they’d just managed to find one he hadn’t inserted himself into.
• Trump was shown one of the (gold) medals to be presented and promptly pocketed it.
• Ghislaine Maxwell’s role in the developing Epstein brouhaha.
• In a stark departure from her usually unshakable support for the president, far-right activist Laura Loomer has warned that Trump’s handling of the Epstein files threatens to consume his presidency. [One can but hope]

More insane Trumpisms

• Am I saying that all the MAGA people who were duped by the Democrats over the Epstein files are stupid? Yes, I am.
• A great gentleman on CSBC said yesterday Trump might well go down as the greatest president ever.
• When I send out a letter, that’s a deal. My letters are the greatest deals. [Strange, then, that the recipients respond with unilateral tariffs of their own.]
• I was surprised that Powell was appointed Chairman of the Fed. [He appointed him himself.]
• I’m going to issue an executive order that soccer be called football in the USA.
• Inflation has been checked. [It hasn’t been and he used to claim it had been eliminated]

Articles/Videos

• Have things calmed down since yesterday?
• The WSJ reports that Trump’s chaotic tariffs are beginning to bite.

Spanish

Apear: To solve. To take down. To fell.

Galician

It’s usually relatively easy to see how a Galician word relates to its Spanish equivalent but ceo and crego have foxed me in the past. The former relates to cielo and the latter to clerigo. [Most often met - in my case - on the (questionable?) label of a Godello wine – Crego e Monteguillo. The Priest and the Altarboy.]

In both Portuguese and Galician the possessive case involves use of the definite article – eg, ‘The my dog’. So it was yesterday in my Pilates class, when a member called her mother A miña nai.

• Pai e nai: Father and mother. Cf. Padre y madre
• Ávo e avoa: Grandfather and grandmother. Cf. Abuelo y abuela.

English

Orwell’s advice on writing good English.

A pedant speaks .. .

• Facebook gives me permission to select friends – People you may know.
• Facebook gives me the option to select friends – People you might know.

• Moist: The 21st-century update of “wet”. Describes someone who keeps doing things they believe will be powerful, significant or striking but which end up being somewhat bathetic.
• Torta: 1. A sandwich made on a crusty bread roll filled with various meats, cheeses, sauces, and veggies. 2. A larger or overweight woman. [‘Offensive’]

Did you know?

My grandson and I enjoyed The LEGO Story on YouYube this morning. Quite charming.

Finally . . .

A surreal moment in my Pilates class yesterday . . . The lady next to me, who never stops speaking for even a second during the entire 55 minutes, characterised some other woman as una habladora, a chatterbox. Which she repeated twice more. Trump levels of self-awareness.

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 or on Substack.

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.

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.

Buying a property 'off-plan'.

A comparison of UK and Spanish living costs.

And here's a personal guide to moving to Spain - to work, not to retire.

What to do if your visa application is rejected.

A warning re social security and VAT(IVA) payments for those who plane to be sel-employed

Finally, from a tax lawyer: Everything you need to know about taxes and healthcare when retiring to Spain.

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 or on Substack.

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.

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.
• Buying a property 'off-plan'.
• A comparison of UK and Spanish living costs.
• And here's a personal guide to moving to Spain - to work, not to retire.
• What to do if your visa application is rejected.
• A warning re social security and VAT(IVA) payments for those who plane to be sel-employed
• Finally, from a tax lawyer: Everything you need to know about taxes and healthcare when retiring to Spain.