Like Mr Brown in the UK, Mr Zapatero is talking and acting as if he fears he’s gone too far in devolving power to the regions, leading to the weakening of national bonds. Previously, of course, this was a concern only of right-of-centre politicians. Or ‘fascists’ as they’re called in Spain. Of course, it’s no coincidence there’s a general election around the corner in Spain. And there might be in the UK too. Time to wrap the cloak of Britishness or Spanishness around oneself.

One of the accusations regularly made in Spain against Gibraltar is that it’s a financial cess-pit and so a cancer on the Iberian body. A bit ironic, then, to read yesterday that Spain is now the country of choice for the Colombian drug barons when it comes to laundering their ill-gotten cash. One wonders why. Perhaps it has something to do with lax application of EU regulations. Which would make it a large glass house.

To be more positive, time again to express my admiration for the internationalism of Spain’s serious press. In the last week, they’ve run obituaries not only on the doyen of the British press, Bill Deedes, but also on ‘Mr Manchester’, Tony Wilson.

I’ve discovered there’s a fine web site giving details of all of Galicia’s numerous festivals. I’d cite it here but I’m a bit concerned the most prominent and numerous ads on the home page are for male and female whores. I suppose it is possible to define fiesta/party quite widely. At least here in Spain.

Another of those regular social surveys suggests 30% of Spaniards don’t think the Sunday obligation is enough as they spend their entire vacation month with ‘family and friends’. And 58% of Spaniards avoid discussing politics within this same group, as they don’t want people falling out with each other. I imagine, though, that the other 42% more than make up for this reluctance on the part of the majority. In Galicia, they probably lay off the subject of [scarce] land so as to avoid mass sibling slaughter.

Resident Sarkozy is reported to be introducing a law giving convicted paedophiles the choice between chemical castration or the rest of their lives in a special hospital/prison. He may not succeed, of course, but, if he does, I for one will be left wondering why this doesn’t infringe EU/International Human Rights laws in France, when it clearly would in the UK.

Finally, for a sensible comment on the madness of the bloated, over-moneyed British Premier League, click here. How long will it take, one wonders, before technology is used to stop the nonsense that follows every controversial referee decision.