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

Spain looks set to win the global lifestyle game, says Mark Stücklin here.

Lenox Napier on Antifa and on (increasing) political polarisation in Spain.

Today’s rabbit hole . . . The Diario de Pv tells us of an ancient tradition – the burning of the tizón de Nadal. This is tree stump, lit in the hearth on Xmas Eve and kept alight until the Epiphany (Reyes) on January 6. Called the Yule log in English. Read all about its origins, etc. here.

You can ski in Galicia, especially as our only resort is now open.

The connection between the two crimes became clear during the suspect’s interrogation. When detectives told her they needed to talk about her ex-husband, she asked, ‘Which one?’ This simple question confirmed investigators’ suspicions about her involvement in both homicides

It’s peak shoplifting period . . .The most stolen items aren’t always the bulkiest, but rather those that combine high value, easy concealment, and high demand. Here are the top 5 most stolen products in supermarkets and hypermarkets during Christmas:
Perfumes and Makeup
Wines and Spirits
Cured Meats
Video Games and Toys
Smartphones

The USA

Fox News cut off Trump on December 5, when he began accusing a specific federal judge of accepting bribes from George Soros, naming the judge and alleging exact payment details as fact. He also targeted senior military officials, claiming they were plotting a coup and deserved the “ultimate punishment.”

A cock-up in a brewery? Files featuring redactions that were found to be removable through Photoshop techniques or simply by highlighting text to paste into a word processing file.

Sadly, guns have more rights than humans in the USA . .  More on American resignation and hypocrisy about gun crimes.

The Way of the World

A worrying development in respect of VPNs.

Spanish

• Dar la campanada: To ring the bell(s). To cause a shock/upset.
• Poner en valor: To highlight, showcase.
• Conmocionado: Shocked.
• Tomar impulso: To gain momentum.
• Caldo de cultivo: Breeding ground-

English

‘Shall’ and ‘Will’ used to have different meanings, related to intention and prediction, and these reversed between the first and the third person singular. But contractions such as ‘I’ll’ and ‘He’ll’ added to the confusion and, so, no one these days understands the distinction. Sensibly, Americans have responded by ceasing to use ‘shall’.

Did you know?

Why Madrid’s tabernas are always red.

You Have to Laugh

Hot water bottles . . .

Finally . . .

For the past 3 days, Gmail has told me that my copy of my blog post Looks dangerous. No idea why. Perhaps I used a word unacceptable to prissy Americans and I’m now branded for eternity. Rather as Lenox is with FB.

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 and on X.

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.