The kafuffle over the fiesta noise levels in Tenerife has allowed El Mundo to publish a diagram showing the decibel levels of annual events around the country. The one in the Canaries causing all the current problems comes in at 47 but this is bested by Cadiz’s annual noise-fest at 49. Several cities are not much below this but these tend to be concentrated in the south and east of Spain. Galicia’s two contributors can manage only 11.2 and 13.8. But, then, what really matters is not the peak noise level but how many hours of the day and night it continues.

In the last paragraph, I referred to Spain as ‘the country’, implying it’s a single, homogenous entity. But, of course, it isn’t and many of us struggle with how to place it on the spectrum ranging from a fully de-centralised federation to a highly-centralised single-nation state. Also in El Mundo yesterday, the American historian, Henry Kamen, wrote that ‘Without a suitable definition of itself, Spain’s future generations will not develop loyalty towards the country.’ Which, I suppose, is exactly what the various Nationalist groups want.

Speaking of which . . . In Catalunia, the ERC party has accused a company of stirring up ‘Cataluniaphobia’ because it’s removed sponsorship from a player who publicly criticised the Spanish courts for their attitude towards an ETA hunger striker. This rampant paranoia is, of course, the mark of true extremists everywhere. Simply disagree with them and you are spawn of the devil.

A total of 8,500 women around Spain are being measured so that the government can issue new standard sizes for dresses and the like. I have applied for the job but, as with all letters I’ve sent during 6 years in this face-to-face, overwhelmingly oral society, I’m still waiting for a reply. Or perhaps it’s just Britophobia.

I wonder how many Brits are aware that in Spain ‘hooligan’ doesn’t actually mean hooligan but just ‘British football supporter’. Probably more than those who know it originates from the name of a particularly unruly 19th century Irish family.

Galicia Facts

The Xunta last year gave 395 courses in Gallego. But perhaps Xoan Carlos or Carlos can tell me what the reference to specific languages means in ‘La Secretaría Xeral de Política Lingüística promovió durante el pasado año un total de 395 cursos de lengua gallega, tanto en los niveles de iniciación y perfeccionamiento como en los de lenguajes específicos.’ I’m guessing it means Gallego lessons were given in English, French, etc. En passant, interesting to see that lengua is feminine but lenguaje masculine.

Not far from here, the lady who heads up the Coast Department has been accused of building a new house within the strip where such construction has long been illegal. I guess she’s in the best position to effect the post-facto legalisation which tends to be routine in these cases.