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/Galiza

For those with a real interest in Spanish politics . . . A long read: The Rise and Fall of Podemos.

Another spotlight on those not benefitting from Spain’s macro level economic growth.

Where house prices are said to be falling in Spain. Two of these are in Pv province, one of which is probably affected by rumours of an AVE high speed train link to Pv city down from the Ourense-SdC stretch.

The BBC reports that the mystery is deepening around the ‘missing hour’ of the president of the Valencian region on the evening of the appalling DANA floods last year.

The UK

No one is terribly surprised that the Labour government is going to tax more and spend more on benefits and the NHS. With a growing and ageing population, this is as inevitable as night following day. The saving graces of productivity gains and economic growth have proven elusive. I certainly wouldn’t want to be the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer. And I’m not sure the current incumbent does either.

The mad, bad world of MAGA

Back during the last presidential campaign, Trump made political hay with the notion that higher than normal inflation was all down to the Democrats’ fiscal spending programmes. . . He won the election in part because he was able to convince enough Americans that inflation was Biden’s fault. Now, a more expensive shoe is on the other foot. The US president claims inflation is going down, but it is in fact higher than it was when he was elected. Affordability is Trump’s problem now. Couldn’t be happening to a nicer guy.

Lawrence O’Donnell: Congressional Republicans are stuck with Donald Trump. And they know that it’s hopeless.

The director of the FBI is facing questions about the deployment of a Swat team to protect his girlfriend in a deepening row over his enjoyment of taxpayer-funded perks.

Spanish

• Surtir efecto: To have an effect. To be effective. To work.
• En toda regla: Absolutely. Full scale.
• Palmita: Small pat. Clap.
• Dar las palmitas: To pamper someone or treat them very gently and carefully. “To wait on someone hand and foot.” It implies giving someone special attention or care, often in a very affectionate or indulgent way

Did you know?

How a 19 year old revolutionised Captain America.

You Have to Laugh

A typical column from a very funny lady. Featuring Elon Musk as the star.

Finally . . .

Another lovely drive today – under blue skies – around the Maestrazgo area of Castellón in the Valencia region. Spoiled only by the reappearance of the problem of a slowly deflating tyre . . .

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

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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.