Interesting to see the EU has decided to designate Don Quixote’s route a Route of Cultural Significance. Or something along those lines. I’m not sure what this means in practice - other than EU grants, I guess – but I suspect there’ll be some arguments between Spain’s regions as to the great man’s exact trajectory. Unless it was entirely in Castilla La Mancha. I’m only on page 640 and have another 300 to go, so can’t be sure.

From another of those non-surprise announcements, we learn the same EU is taking legal action against Spain for failing to implement the restriction on TV ads taking up more than 12 minutes per hour. And still on TV, the Spanish organisation, TVE, has said it will demand ‘rigour’ from all those who give an opinion in its programs, not just from professionals. If you have shares, sell them now. If this ever happens, I imagine the Spanish public will switch off in their millions.

Yesterday in the UK, the House of Commons voted to make the House of Lords an entirely elected body. The assumption is that it will then become populated with candidates from party lists, just like the Commons. An example of why this might not be the right way to go was given yesterday here in Spain, when Opposition members of the Senate – in a show of brutal partisanship - shouted down President Zapatero’s attempted address on the ETA issue of the moment. As I said yesterday, neither mature nor statesmanlike. It’s never happened in the House of Lords, I’m sure. You have to be awake to jeer.

Galicia Facts and Perspectives

Rumours are circulating of a new ferry service [from the Spanish company Aciona] between Vigo and Portsmouth. It’s certainly true there was an announcement along these lines a while ago but no real evidence has yet been seen of implementation of this intention. If anyone knows anything for sure, I’d be pleased to hear it.

The Great Galician Language Wars: One of the main problems for those wanting to achieve the supremacy of Gallego here in Galicia is that – although it may be regarded as the ‘vehicular social language’ – it’s not traditionally been the language of the elite. In contrast to Catalunia, here this is Spanish. So those already at the top and those seeking to be upwardly mobile naturally favour the national language. To counteract this, some pretty strong measures have to be taken. Compelling primary kids to have all their lessons in Gallego, for example. Or forcing notaries to write all legal documents in Gallego. Accordingly, today came the announcement that the Xunta will give each pregnant woman here a special kit to help her promote Gallego to her baby. This will include a book of true Galician names and a CD of lullabies in Gallego, together with their lyrics. Also aired was the suggestion that the local TV station should strengthen its signal so as to reach speakers of Gallego in both western Asturias and parts of Castilla y León. Things are warming up.