I am increasingly sure that the quintessence of Spain is not procrastination – the mañana syndrome – but the attitude of living primarily for today. What I have previously called here-and-nowism. Its corollary is that the future scarcely exists and is certainly not to be taken very seriously. Planning is for idiots.

Examples noted over the last couple of days:-

1. An English friend of mine has lent money to a Spanish colleague. Every time they meet, the latter volunteers a promise to make a payment the following week. None of these have materialised. The translation of each promise – whatever the form of words used – is ‘If I had the money, I would pay you now. But I don’t. So I’ll make both of us happy today by telling you that I will pay you next week.’ The point is that the Spanish colleague really does mean this on the day the statement is made – the only day which counts – and so is utterly unaware of the irritation caused to a non-Spanish lender of regular defaults. Or of the increasing implausibility of his promises. Trained from birth as they are, Spanish colleagues would instinctively discount any promise of future action. Nothing in the future is to be relied on.

2. An American teacher friend has told me today of the non-appearance of a student who discussed lessons yesterday, demanded and got a morning session, agreed to come today at 1pm – this is still morning in Spain – and never showed up. According to my friend, this is so frequent as to be not worthy of comment, let alone anger. He expects she will turn up some morning over the next week or so and then proceed without mentioning her non-show today. Being an old hand, my American friend knows that Spanish commitments always carry the unstated rider – ‘unless something more appealing to me comes along’. As no disrespect is intended, a Spanish friend finds it hard to understand any complaint made about his or her default.

3. Spanish children are exceptionally indulged, in some cases until well into their 30s. My attempts to read a book over a lunchtime drink yesterday were vitiated by the sound of an impotent father shouting instructions to a 3 year old who had learned to ignore him with total impunity. This is not remotely unusual, as Spanish parents appear to be only too happy to buy peace today at any price for the future. The important thing is that the child be happy today, even if indulging him now turns him into the sort of egotist who shows no regard for others in later life. This is not unique to Spain, of course, but it does seem almost universal here. Needless to say, it is no coincidence that indulged children think nothing of ignoring their commitments as adults.