In the patchwork quilt of Spanish regions, Navarra has the distinction of being the only Comunidad Foral. This adjective has no English equivalent but indicates a place has specific privileges [or fueros] granted long ago. Much, if not all, of the region is regarded by Basque nationalists as part of the true Basque Country and there is currently considerable concern here that ETA is making its much heralded ceasefire conditional upon some degree of amalgamation. It’s hard to imagine this happening, even under a government which so far has found it difficult to say no to many nationalist demands, but who can really say?

Meanwhile, back on the terra firma of tar macadam, the traffic mortalities over the holiday weekend were far worse than predicted. Depending on which number you use, they were either 25 or 40% up on last year. The good news is that the 4 months total is down on 2005. Though not in Galicia, alas.

We’ve been blessed with wonderful weather for the last 10 days or so but things are forecast to change tomorrow. Let’s hope we’re not in for another bout of ADD. Elsewhere this may well stand for Attention Deficit Order. But here it means Atlantic Dumping Day, when the ocean wreaks some sort of revenge on us.

Go to the link on the right for Chapter 3 of Stalking Time for the Moonboys. Which comes highly recommended.