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

Mark Stücklin tells us here that, for one reason and another. the French aren’t buying Spanish properties the way they used to. They were overtaken by the Dutch last year.

Very sad to read that the bull fighter killed last week had retired, after very successful career. Gored while he was helping to corrall the bulls ahead of a corrida.

Talking of sadness . . . Gonzalo Beverra was a Gallego who hid in a barn and a cave during the Civil War and only emerged after Franco had died in 1976 – 37 years later. And then promptly died. It takes all sorts.

Today was far hotter than usual in Pv city but the week of sun ends tonight, with an Atlantic storm bringing rain and up to a 13 degree drop in the temperature tomorrow. So, back to normal.

What isn’t back to normal is my wifi, which went AWOL all day today. But a technician will come some time tomorrow morning I’m told.

The UK

While we in Pv city had a temperature of 29 today, Storm Dave has brought snow to Britain. Possibly the one arriving here tomorrow.

The Middle East War

The latest long update from Naked Capitalism.

The Law of Unintended Consequences . . . How Trump is turning Iran into a full military dictatorship. US president’s regime change efforts bring hardliners to the fore while diplomats watch from the sidelines.

Trump’s reckless Iran war is underpinned by bad theology. A strange reading of the Bible by some evangelical Protestants is worryingly influential on this administration’s foreign policy. . . . if Iran threatens Israel, Iran must be destroyed – even, paradoxically, if it results in the destruction of the world. That, folks, is part of the plan. BUT . . . Trump’s inadvertent creation of an IRGC-dominated country could facilitate a deal.

Will he do a TACO, on the basis that someone – Pakistan? – has presented a ceasefire proposal?. Iran would be stupid not to accept this, whatever their real intentions are.

The United States of Trump USA

Relevant podcasts:-

• The Daily Beast – On Podbean and other platforms [Plus video]
• Inside Trump’s Head – On Podbean and other platforms [Plus video]
• The Daily Blast with Sargent – On Podbean and other platforms
• The Rest is Politics US – On Podbean and other platforms [Plus video]
• The DSR Network: Also on Podbean.

Even now – after more than 10 years of him – it’s hard to believe this passes for diplomacy and the art of the deal for the cretin in the White House:-

Iran has said the result of this will be ‘devastating’ retaliation. One wonders is anyone has ever briefed Trump on the ability of the Iranians to attack US infrastructure at home, in retaliation for whatever Trump does next. Not that he’d have read any briefing notes, of course. Or accepted their veracity or relevance if he had. Being the world’s greatest genius, the like of which has never been seen.

Russia

Laughing all the way to the Donbas.

The Way of the World

An insight into the world of modelling. And the trafficking of young women.

Spanish

• Conseguidor: Achiever, obtainer (of contracts), go-getter.
• Al raya: At bay, held off.
• Pinganillo: Earpiece, earphone.

Did you know?

The most bizarre Easter traditions around the world.

To amuse

This foxed me for a while. Outside a primary school . . .

Perhaps the stencil is only available in English . . .

Finally . . .

Facebook . . . I’m fed up of being sent things I’m not interested in. And, worse, news items that are usually AI slop. The final straw is the introduction of ads. So, I’ll be quitting it soon. Meanwhile, I will continue, I guess, to have everyone who lives in Pv province or city suggested as a ‘friend’.

Finally . . . Finally . . .

My wifi eventually came back yesterday but was lost again this morning . . . A technician will fix it tomorrow, I’m told. Glad I’m not a digital nomad . . .

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 there.

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