Readers
may recall me asking about the timing of the report alleging that the
President of the Catalan government held undeclared millions
offshore. Well, the police are now said to have revealed that this
was a set-up. Increasing the chances, I guess, that it was all the
work of some dirty tricks department in the government. So, will
there be an inquiry? I rather doubt it.
While
we're looking backwards . . . I mentioned last night the government's plans to transform (free) services from the Civil Registrars into
(unfree) services from Property Registrars and Notaries. If you can
read Spanish, click here for a more detailed analysis of this issue,
forwarded by my fellow-blogger, Trevor, up in Barcelona.
Notaries,
of course, are already an inescapable feature of Spanish society,
since one is compelled to use them on various occasions in one's
life. It always amuses me to see the look of total disbelief on the face
of a Spaniard when you tell him or her no one ever deals with a
notary in the UK. Similarly when you tell them no one has to be
registered at the town hall. And that there's no such thing as a
Family Book. Or an ID card. Such simple pleasures.
More
news on the illustrious Gerardo Díaz Ferrán . . . When he declared
himself bankrupt – clearly not before time – he had debts of 419m euros
and assets (he claimed) of only 5m. His biggest creditor was the Bank
of Spain, which was owed a mere 84m euros. One wonders, inter alia,
what sort of security they had against this loan. Or whether it was
just an overdraft. It's a colourful world in Madrid.
I
guess it's just one indication of several that the recession is
hitting people hard but it's very noticeable how fliers have
proliferated on the stanchions of the bridge I cross every day. And
how quickly they return after they've been cleaned off. Like the
cards for prostitutes in London phone boxes/booths. If there are any
these days. Phone booths, of course, not prostitutes.
There
was an article in El País today on Britain's contribution to
the EU. Astonishingly – to me, anyway - it was positive. Laudatory
even. You can read it here, in Spanish. El País does have an English
edition but, ironically, there was no place in this for an article on
Britain.
The
Duchess of Alba is Spain's richest woman, I believe. Click here for
evidence that there's a limit to how good money can make you look.
And bear in mind that this, trust me, is a very flattering foto. It
can, though, buy you a Cuban toy-boy. Though it won't endear him to
your (more than angry) children.
It's
the time of year to see signs in shoe shops saying Pares Sueltos.
Or 'Loose Pairs'. Or 'Separate Pairs'. I've yet to figure out what
this really means, as I don't imagine it means you can buy single
shoes. Like the ex Mrs McCartney, perhaps. Trevor can probably put me
out of my misery on this.
Finally
. . . If you understand Spanish, you might enjoy this dissertation
on the valuable role played in Spanish discourse by the word cojones.
Literally 'testicles/balls'.
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