This is a big day in Galicia – the feast of our patron saint, Saint James. Or Santo Iago. Or Santiago. Or, down below my house in the barrio of O Burgo, Santiaguiño. So, some religiosity but a great deal more irreligious noise and fun, with bands playing until 2 or 3 in the morning in the middle of an already noisy fairground. Thank-God [or Santiaguiño] for my ear plugs. But at least I’ll enjoy the fireworks tonight, from my position way above them.

Talking of noise, Pontevedra’s annual Jazz Festival last night brought us a superb Rock Gospel group from the USA. This featured not one but two steel guitars and the output was so high I was astonished people could hear their mobile phones ringing. But less surprised they essayed conversations nonetheless. Spanish audiences are informal and fluid creatures.

A judge near Cadiz has withdrawn custody from a mother because she’s a lesbian. He turns out to be under investigation for previous controversial judgements and the Minister of Justice was quick to stress yesterday “The function of a judge is not to use sentencing to defend opinions which fall outside the principles of the Constitution.” Interestingly, one of the judge’s two surnames is Calamita.

Spanish universities: Reader Pedro points out the Selectividad marks demanded reflect supply as well as demand. Law faculties, he says, are large so need to lower their mark to get enough bums for their seats. Another reader asks about Media Studies. Well, I believe this course is called Ciencias de Información and here’s a comment I’ve just read – For some time now this has been one of the most demanded courses. It’s considered very vocational, the evidence being the high number of students seeking places every year in Spain. Which has meant the mark required has continued to rise. The article goes on to talk about high marks being required for Journalism [7.5] and Audiovisual Communication [7.2], so there may be some overlap with what Media Studies has become in the UK. Informed comments welcome, as ever. Is there anywhere in Britain where you have to get excellent A Levels to take Media Studies?

The latest bad news on the property market is that prices are falling in several provincial capital cities, as well as along the south coast. Sunday’s El Mundo pronounced - The myth that property prices in Spain never fall has turned out to be exactly that, a myth. It goes on to describe the [doomsday] scenario of demand falling while supply continues to rise because of starts in 2006 and 2007. But . . . This is positively my last comment on this subject as I sit out the next 18 moths, waiting to see whether it’s me or Biopolitical who has to buy the Cava. Honest.