Gratifyingly, the number of deaths on Spain’s main highways fell 13% in 2004. In fact, every region in the country showed a reduction, except La Rioja. I was tempted to put this down to the prevalence of wine but the totals there are small, meaning that a single crash impacts disproportionately on the percentage change.

House prices rose by an average 14%, though with major differences between cities and regions. For some reason – too much bloody building going on? – the 4% increase in Pontevedra was one of the lowest in the country.

The stock market rose by 28%. And car sales were the highest ever.

And the rainfall, in Galicia at least, was the lowest for more than 50 years. But holidaymakers suffered bad luck when it rained on 21 of the 31 days of August, the only month in the year when the 30 year average was exceeded. Who says God has no sense of humour?