Most
of the arranging for Saturday night was done via text messaging and
this threw up a query about the English equivalent of Hola,
Chico. My Spanish (lady)friend wrote
Hello, Boy but
the only context in which I can recall 'Boy' being used is white
racist to black man. So, I got to wondering what would be a good
alternative. And I still haven't come up with one. Likewise, what
should we say in English for the common Spanish sign-off – Abrazos?
A (male) friend, used 'Hugs' today but it didn't feel right. But,
then, 'Embraces' doesn't either.
Talking
of words . . . I learned yesterday a new Spanish expression for
'talkative' – Hablar por los codos.
To talk through your elbows. I also learned that the
innocent-sounding pelotón
– much used for the leading group of riders in the Tour de France
and the Gira de España – can also mean 'firing squad'. This is the
sort of thing you pick up when reading a book entitled Berlín
1945: La Caida.
Talking
of matters military . . . Some Spanish general has pronounced – in
the context of Catalan separatism – that “The State is more
important than democracy.” I recall that the last time something
like this was said a few years back, it cost the speaker his job. But
it doesn't seem to have even ruffled feathers this time. I guess it
was a left-of-centre government the last time round.
Italy.
Berlusconi. What can one say? Almost certainly not 'Convergence'.
Their political system – if there really is one – is surely sui
generis. Mind you, it could be worse. I
seem to recall they changed their government every week when I was a
kid.
Finally
. . . After 12 years, I'm still capable of being shocked in Spain.
As I was getting out of my car this evening outside my house, a large
4x4 drew up and started to park. The driver was a child of about 5,
albeit sitting on the lap of a woman somewhat older. Perhaps it was
the look on my face but she/they decided to abort their attempt and
park further down the road.
Publisher's
Note: Only minutes after I wrote that I
had no idea why page views had soared, I got a message from my
friend, Fran, who's big in the Anglo Galician Competition, in which
he told me they'd kindly driven traffic my way.
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