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
I confess to never having understood how the big Xmas lottery works, not that I have ever really wanted to. For those who do want to do so, this is for you.
The VdG reported that Galicians spent an average of 83 euros each on the lottery, which I find incredible.
An outlet in Pv city sold a portion of a ticket that brought in almost 3m euros. Naturally, the place will be flooded next Xmas with folk who don’t understand how chance operates, so think the it is ´lucky’. Hence the publicity this year.
A shedload of money also dropped on a place up in the hills of León, east of Galicia – where Ferrari sales should now soar. And possibly the road accidents rate.
The Diaro de Pontevedra – like all newspapers – today had a wrap-around cover, giving every one of the hundreds/thousands of winning numbers. Plus 15 pages of reportage inside this.
The biggest winner is, of course, the Tax Office. And then there’s the narcos and politicians who buy winning tickets, to launder their ill-gotten income.
The Spanish police have a wide range of things they can fine you for on the spot for. This increases every year. January’s additions can be found here.
The UK
The city of Brighton has decided to ‘decolonise’ Santa Claus. This columnist is less than surprised.
Europe
Trump and Putin share a craving for status. That’s why they both want to destroy Europe. Liberal democracies view Putin’s Russia as a bully – and Trump’s US as an angry drunk with a bazooka. The response is pure venom.
The USA/The Way of the World
The USA is to build a ‘fearsome’ new fleet of battleships. Need it be said that they will be ‘Golden’ and called the Trump Class. At least for a while.
The 20 weirdest moments of the year, from a UK perspective. Guess who features a lot.
AI
When the AI bubble bursts, humans will finally have their chance to take back control.
Spanish
Essential vocab for fashionistas . . .
- Minishorts de lentejuelas: Sequinned mini-shorts [hotpants?}
- Top drapado: Draped blouse.
- Pantalones holgados: Baggy trousers.
- Total look white: Totally white look.
Did you know?
How Santa Claus became a lasting tradition.
You have to Laugh
I dined with Spanish friends the other night. One of them talks a great deal and in a manner that leaves me ignorant of much of what he’s saying. So, I was delighted when another (Spanish) diner later volunteered to me she’d understood only about 50% of what he’d said. So, we’d both been nodding donkeys . . .
Finally . . .
I often have a large circle of condensation in the middle of my bedroom window of a morning. I’m advised that: This typically indicates a cooling issue with double-glazed glass, called “collapsed glass syndrome.” Warm, humid indoor air from overnight activities – like breathing – or poor ventilation contacts the window’s inner pane. In double-glazed units, extreme cold causes the outer pane to warp inward due to pressure differences or thin glass flexing, making the center unusually cold and attracting condensation there first, unlike edges which insulate better. Contributing factors are: 1. High humidity builds up overnight, especially in cooler months in places like Galicia with temperature swings. 2. Poor airflow from closed windows or vents traps moisture, worsening the effect on colder central spots. To prevent it: 1. Improve ventilation by opening trickle vents or slightly cracking the window at night. 2. Use a dehumidifier to lower indoor humidity below 50-60%. 3. Check for failed seals causing internal pane issues, though yours sounds surface-level.
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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 . . .
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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.
Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain 