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

The UK is not the only country with a serious absenteeism problem. Spain does too, it’s reported here. To address it, a ‘shock plan’ is being prepared by the OECD.

Talking of plans . . .A new government scheme to help the ‘young’ buy their first property.

Cousas de Galiza

Reader Paideleo tells me that 8,000 Gallegos wee involved in the construction of the Panama canal, of whom 500 died. Or 6.3%

Our narcos have taken to hiding cocaine beneath the skin of imported animals. Dead ones, I assume but you never know.

Ever on the ball, Interpol has described this method as both new and innovative.

The UK

The national worklessness problem . . .  6.5 million people are claiming out-of-work benefits. Startling graphs.

THE USA

As expected, a judge has struck down Trump’s $15bn lawsuit against the New York Times, giving him 28 days to refile the action – after saying the original is full of ‘vituperation and invective’ and that it violated civil procedure in federal cases for failing to get to the point. More of his criticisms here.

Astonishing . . . US workers are fired over Charlie Kirk social media posts. United Airlines, Nasdaq, Washington Post and others dismiss employees in aftermath of the conservative activist’s murder. Fear stalks the land . . .

The late night comedians get it together. The Jon Stewart TDS episode is well worth watching.

Spanish

• Pigargo: Fish eagle. (One has been born in Galicia, after a long fallow period.)
• Bullying: Bullying. Also Acoso and Intimidación.
• Rebasar: To exceed, surpass.
• Enunciado: Statement, wording, sentence.

Did you know?

I’m guessing most of don’t know the full history of Gaza. This podcast fills the gap, going back more than 2,000 years to The Philistines: Gaza is one of the oldest urban centres on Earth. It was first referred to by Pharaoh Thutmose III in the 15th century BC when it was known as Ghazzati. Here, we ask: Who were the Philistines? Why did Egyptian pharaohs put monopolies on Gazan sweet wine? And what was ‘The Bronze Age Collapse’. Also on other platforms.

You Have to Laugh. Maybe.

I’m sorry I Haven’t a Clue is a longstanding comedy panel game on BBC Radio 4. You can get it on YouTube but I suspect you have to British to find it as hilarious as I do. Some old episodes.

Finally . . .

I’m pruning my huge bougainvillea bush-cum-tree. As you might know, the branches have thorns and the thing is not averse to using them, as it fights back. And the bloody scratches itch. Not exactly a labour of love.

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.

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.

If you´re thinking of moving to Spain, this link should be useful to you.