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 will lead the European house price growth for years to come, it says here. Good news for the asset rich, of course. And for the Boomer down-sizers.

More locally . . . An article on Pv city’s cost of living increase since last year includes the news that the cost of housing had risen by 17% since January this year. Astonishing, if true.

As reported, supplies of local octopus are 40% down on last year. If you eat it these days in Spain, it could well have come from the booming grounds of the south coast of England. (Your crabs have long come from Scotland),

No surprise to read that immigrants are taking the majority of new jobs in Galicia’s struggling construction and hostelry sectors, where dependence on them is said to be ‘total’. Very possibly elsewhere in Spain too.

26 years ago the only ‘antiques’ shop in Pv city was a small warehouse on the outskirts of the city selling 2nd hand furniture at high prices. Now, we have at least 2 genuine antique shops plus a few charity shops selling all sorts of donated stuff. Possibly a sign of increased wealth. Paradoxically.

Pv city has a wide range of summer events every year. Yesterday, I asked for the usual glossy guide in 2 of our (competing) 3 or 4 tourist office and was told in each that they’d run out of them. As this also happened last year, I’m wondering if – as a cost-saving measure – the council’s actually stopped producing it, compelling one to go to their web page or to use the proffered QR. Nowhere near as handy. Unless you have a colour printer at home.

The World Cup

The first half of the England-Argentina match last night was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. If the strategy of Argentina was to physically knock England out of their stride, it was certainly a success. England were undoubtedly poor and did little to justify their global 4th place ranking. After deciding to give up rugby and play football, Argentina were much the better team and they deserved to win. France will surely beat England on Saturday. My biggest regret is that – being with family and friends* – I couldn’t leave the bar at half time and go home to bed.

*Including my Argentinean friend, Alex.

A professional British view: This was an implausibly brutal new low. . . . The first half was a physical fight [A war of attrition, said someone else]. . . . But . . . With 55 minutes gone England were actually winning this game, thanks to Gordon’s goal, the only real moment of clarity they produced all match. At which point they simply disappeared as an animate entity from the stage. . . . There were some final spasms from the corpse of England’s tournament, although this was like watching a hackneyed stage-show version of English football. . . . England were undeniably poor here, a semi-final that they basically tossed away. They produced almost no threat, no energy, no sense they had the capacity to seize the day. 

At least one Spanish paper referred to poor substitute decisions after the English goal, which were naturally echoed in the UK. Tuchel will probably be sacked quite soon. And walk away with a great deal of cash.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism.

The United States of Trump America

Trump’s return to the battering ram makes Republicans [even more] nervous. His return to war with Iran offers no clear path to victory. The gamble on resuming hostilities raises the prospect that the conflict will overshadow his second term.

Texas is getting what it voted for.

Spanish

• Paquete: Also slang for a child’s nappy/diaper.. HT to Lenox Napier for that.
• Rácano: Miser, cheapskate, tightwad, scrooge, slacker, stingy, mean.
• Cuchillada: Knifing, stab, gash, stabbing, stab wound, knifing,.

English:

Failson: Internet slang for a mediocre adult son of a prominent familywho, despite being mediocre and lacking any real talent or determination, succeeds in life (or at least floats by). His success comes primarily because of family money and connections.

Did you know?

Perry has cited this comedy film about The Knowledge. There’s also this doumentary on it.

Finally . . You Have to Laugh

What could happen, if a truck overturns on the road next to your front garden.

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

The Usual Links .

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I can also be read on X at Thoughts from Galicia. And on Substack here. I no longer post 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.