In today's El Pais, the British commentator Timothy Garton Ash says the likes of Holland, Poland and the UK really mustn't be allowed to stand in the way of the EU achieving a voice in the world as loud as that of the USA, China, India etc. Right now, he says, no one in the USA takes any notice of what is said in Europe. A few pages later on, there's a report of condemnation by the European Parliament of Spain's rampant coastal development. Reading this, it struck me it would be nice if the EU's voice could be heard in Europe, never mind the USA.

A lot of buildings in Spain appear to get started without formal permission, in the form of a licence from the relevant town hall. But it comes as something of a shock to read that construction of the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona has proceeded now for 122 years in the absence of this minor formality. But I don't suppose there'll be a demolition order. Or at least not until it's finished and God only knows when this will be.

I'm struggling to keep up with the pace of emerging nationalist groups. Reader Mark Sparrow has now told me of the existence, in the north of the UK, of the Popular Liberation Army of Westmorland. These are known as PLAW, allowing me to ask whether this report really is plawsible.

Thank-you and Goodnight.