I occasionally allude to the possibility the issue of safety/risk is viewed differently here in Spain than elsewhere. I mention this again merely because last night I had to swerve to avoid the oncoming car of a neighbour with a 4 year old child on his lap. You might think this would horrify his wife but I guess not. For she was sitting next to him with a baby on her lap. But things are always relative; I never see here 6 or 7 on a motorbike, a pretty common sight when I lived in Jakarta.

The starting salary for a UK state sector teacher is around 19,000 pounds, or 28,000 euros. This compares with an average UK salary of around 23,000 pounds, or 34,000 euros. So 83%. Here in Spain, I’m told the starting salary for a teacher is 27,000 euros, compared with an average of 23,000 euros. So 117%. Given that teachers here have a relatively easy life, guaranteed employment as a civil servant, private medical insurance, very long holidays and an excellent pension, it’s pretty easy to understand why it’s a popular profession. On the downside, though, I’m assured there’s not much growth in your salary over your career. In contrast, UK teachers’ salaries can [will?] rise 47%, to 28,000 pounds a year, or 42,000 euros. Or 122% of the average. These are all gross, annual salaries, of course. One of the things that makes comparisons difficult is that here everyone talks about their individual net, monthly salary. I wait to be corrected on all this.

Reflecting demographic trends, there’s now a large surplus of university places in Spain – 292,000 courses for only 200,000 students. Inevitably, grade requirements have fallen. For some places, an application form bearing just your name and address is said to be enough. Hard to see this situation improving Spain’s problem of unemployed/underpaid graduates.

A UK poll has found that “The public believes the effects of global warming on the climate are not as bad as politicians and scientists claim”. Well, there’s a surprise. Perhaps we can expect all those ‘green’ politicians to jump off this particular bandwagon now. Especially as, so far this summer, warming of any type is conspicuous by its absence here in Galicia.

Another non-surprise – The EU is about to impose a massive fine on Spain’s Telefonica for abuse of its dominant position in the broadband market. This will, of course, be met by the shareholders, a major one of which is the Spanish government. Or the taxpayers, as they’re sometimes called.

We’ve had two more local examples recently of what’s called kamikaze driving here – people speeding the wrong way down an autopista. Does this happen elsewhere, I’m forced to wonder.

Finally, here’s another example of the British art of understatement - It has emerged that five of the seven [terrorist] suspects held by the police are young Middle Eastern doctors employed at British hospitals. This is a development that will raise questions over the vetting procedures for medics from abroad.