After the Catholic church, the new socialist government has decided to upset the Americans. They will not be asked to send a contingent to this year’s military parade. And, since there won’t be an American flag on display, the President – Mr Zapatero – won’t have to do his normal trick of sitting down while everyone else is standing up when it goes past. As if this weren’t bad enough, the American troops are being replaced by cheese-eating, surrender monkeys from France. I suppose Mr Z feels that it will do him no harm to play to the latent but widespread anti-Americanism of the Spanish populace and to the unpopularity of the Iraq war here. Perhaps next year there will be a march past of married gays. Who will shortly number amongst my best friends, of course.

The Spanish Inland Revenue have now announced that they will be setting up a fund similar to that via which Catholic archbishops and priests receive their salaries. This will be for “minority religions such as Protestantism, Islam and Judaism”. Interesting to see that they regard Protestantism as a completely different religion from Catholicism and not just another branch of Christianity. But then Catholic is taken to mean Christian in Spain so it’s understandable that it’s hard for them to acknowledge other claimants to the label.

Students have apparently been late in registering at their universities this year. This has been put down to the effect of the Indian summer of the last 5 weeks. As you would expect, sunbathing ranks above studying in the fun stakes. And, if you fail your exams, you can always repeat the year. Many times.

WordWatch
El playback – Lip synching. Thank-you, Sir Elton

WordWatch Special

Un perro – Dog
Una perra – Slut

Un pájaro – Bird
Una pájara – Slut

Un zorro – Fox
Una zorra – Slut

Un golfo – Rascal
Una golfa – Slut

Un marrano – Pig
Una marrana - Slut

Un guarro - Pig
Una guarra - Slut

I trust you have detected the pattern here. Good job that the animal kingdom has no clout, I suppose. And fascinating to note the rich lexicon of words for female behaviour that doesn’t comply with established – though fading – norms. How dare they think they can do what men are free to do!