It was the penultimate bull-run in Pamplona today. The commentator always refers to the bulls as the ‘protagonistas’. The only English translation for this is ‘stars’ or ‘lead players’, which doesn’t seem quite right really. In truth, the real ‘stars’ are the kids who get gored, since this is what we're all waiting for. Watching 6 bulls follow 6 cows straight down a hill into the ring is decidedly boring. Especially 7 days in a row.

Here in Galicia, Don Miguel Fraga has yet to hand over the reins of power, even though it’s 3 weeks since the election. I don’t now whether the delay reflects the fact that the new government is a coalition and has to sort itself out; perhaps a Galician reader can explain. Meanwhile, the outgoing PP administration is still taking financial decisions and this has been stigmatised as ‘unethical but not illegal’ by the incoming parties. This is a ‘nice’ distinction anywhere in the world but most interesting in a Spanish context.

Which reminds me, the French have just been heavily fined by the EU for continuing to catch small fish despite a ban dating back 13 years. It was the biggest fine in the history of the EU. So God only knows what the Spanish are in for when the EU gets round to them.

Intriguing comparison in the papers yesterday. On the same day the Vatican proposed that the clients of whores be penalised, the head of the Spanish Prostitutes’ Union again called for the legalising of their profession, presumably so that they can avail themselves of social security benefits. I guess it’s theoretically true that these aren’t mutually exclusive aims.

Finally, here’s part of the text of the latest Nigerian bank account email scam - There is absolutely going to be a great doubt and distrust in your heart in respect of this email, coupled with the fact that, so many miscreants have taken possession of the Internet to facilitate their nefarious deeds. Wonderful. And so reassuring. I’ve sent off my details, naturally.