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

Interesting . . . Spaniards are delighted that the FT is running a full-page advertisement against the Hacienda.

I mentioned a few days ago that, down in Murcia city, I took a tour of the Casino there. As in Pv city, this is a private club, not a gambling joint. Among the fotos I posted was one of the lovely library. What took me aback when reading about it was the statement that it had been installed, in the early 20th century, by the English firm of Waring & Gillows, well-known on Merseyside when I was a kid but no longer with us. . . . Per Wiki: Waring & Gillow was a prominent British furniture manufacturer and retailer formed in 1897 through the merger of Gillows of Lancaster (founded around 1730) and Waring of Liverpool (established in 1835).

Portugal

Voted economy of the year by The Economist. Which must hurt the Spanish, who are used to getting this accolade.

Europe

The EU might well follow Australia’s lead on restricting social media. But I recall reading that only 30% of Australian parents take up the opportunity to keep their kids away from the growing evil.

The USA

More Trumpisms . . .

Addressing the audience at the Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony at the weekend:-

• Many of you are miserable, horrible people. You are persistent. You never give up. Sometimes I wish you’d give up, but you don’t.
• I have a good memory, so I can remember things, which is very fortunate. But just, I wanted to just be myself. You have to be yourself.

[The Kennedy Center has seen ticket sales for future events slump after his appearance.]

This is a good podcast on the startling – but not surprising – global strategy document of the Trump era, penned large by the repugnant Stephen Miller.

As if you didn’t know . . . The US House speaker, Mike Johnson, has a go-to response when asked about something controversial Trump or members of his administration have said or done. It’s some version of “I don’t know anything about that.” . . . His approach is both extraordinary and an abdication of that position’s traditional responsibility.

Another world class ignoramus . . . Does Pete Hegseth even believe that war crimes exist?

JD Vance’s silence is allowing the oldest hatred to take root.

The Way of the World

I doubt this is a problem exclusive to the USA. Other economies surely also display the effect of increasing concentration of wealth and the massive growth in the cost of property.

The Groypers are young, overwhelmingly male, ultra-Right keyboard warriors who promote white nationalism, sometimes in the name of Christianity. They are 100% devoted to destroying, not building. Anti-Semitism is at their core. They operate currently only in the USA but expected to start appearing in at least the UK. Per Wiki: Groypers are widely recognized as a white nationalist, antisemitic, and homophobic movement.

Spanish

• Autolesión: Self-harm.
• Autolesivo: Self-harming.
• Hucha: Piggy bank, moneybox

English

Tchotchke: (Yiddish). A cheap showy trinket/knick-knack, a decorative item or souvenir of little value. As in: The head of FIFA has figured out what practically every world leader and every other corporate leader has figured out. If you show up with a tchotchke, preferably covered in gold, and give it to the 3-year-old in the Oval Office, he will be entertained and happy.

You Have to Laugh

A Trump wax figure has been removed from a museum after being repeatedly punched in the face.

Finally . . .

Something more to worry about – new Android malware.

Finally . . . Finally . . .

I arrived home on Sunday night to a mysteriously-broken kitchen blind. Taking the casing off the roller at the top, I came across 2 spiders, one much lager than the other. Indeed, rather more alive than the other . . .

In one corner, was this pile of something or other. Which I decided was an insect cemetery.

Nice to have a pet in the house,

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

The Usual Links . . .

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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.