The young Minister for Housing, Carme Chacón, has thrust her head above the parapet again. In contrast to other commentators, she insists mortgage payment increases have now reached their ceiling in Spain and that only a few people are having to tighten their belts here. Elsewhere, however, it’s reported that almost 60% of Spanish families are now struggling to get to the end of the month. Personally, I’ve no idea who’s right. But possibly not someone in a government which has kicked off its pre-election campaign with a promise to increase pensions right after the votes are counted. Of course, Chacón’s great goal of the moment is to increase the number of rental properties in Spain. These are reported to be only 10% of the total, against an EU average of 30. Government initiatives todate appear to have been an abject failure, at least set against the targets announced at the outset.

Over in the Balkans, the EU is moving, under the aegis of its viceregal jurisdiction, to grant Kosovo independence from Serbia. Needless to say, this is a development viewed with alarm by the Spanish government. And, more significantly, by the Russians. If it does come to pass, it will be – according to one UK commentator – a major irony. As he puts it - The EU is doctrinally opposed to the idea of national self-determination. After all, if that idea were legitimate, the intellectual justification for European integration would collapse.

I had the usual mix of Spanish manners yesterday. On the positive side, I became the best friend of a 75 year old barman who chatted at length to me as I waited for my fellow diners. On the negative side, at least 5 people crossed within a centimetre of my face as if I weren’t there. Actually it was 4, as one woman did it twice within a few seconds. And, then, neither the learner driver nor her instructor bothered to even acknowledge my pulling onto the grass verge of a narrow lane to let them pass. Anyone who reads my blog regularly will know my explanation for this differential treatment, viz. that simple conversation with the barman had introduced the all-important personal factor, whereas its absence with the others meant I was merely a stranger to whom no duty of civility was owed. It shouldn’t annoy me, in the same way these things doesn’t annoy the Spaniards. But it does. A cultural victim from the land where they are polite to strangers but allow kids to slaughter each other.

Talking of which, here’s something for all those readers who can’t abide the English. It’s an extract from a 1976 article by P J O’Rourke on foreigners around the world:-

The English

Cold-blooded queers with nasty complexions and terrible teeth who once conquered half the world but still haven't figured out central heating. They warm their beers and chill their baths and boil all their food, including bread. An intensely snobbish group, but who exactly they're snubbing is an international mystery. Lately they've been getting their comeuppance world power-wise, as their shabby, antiquated, and bankrupt little back alley of a country slowly winds down like the ill-crafted clockwork playthings of which their undersized children are so fond. In fact, last year their entire government had to kiss the ass of the fat aboriginal nig-nog who runs Uganda to retrieve a single flit hack writer from the clutches of that august nation. They all have large collections of something useless like lamp finials or toad eggs, and they would have lost both world wars if it were not for us. They like to be spanked with canes and that's just what they deserve.

I’m indebted to John over at Iberia Notes for the citation of this scurrilous article. I would strongly recommend that inquisitive Spanish readers refrain from trawling through it for the relevant bit on Spain. Likewise Scottish readers. Or any sensitive soul, really.

By the way, it’s meant to be funny and OTT. I say this because I fear this may not be entirely obvious to some of the people who write comments to my blog.

Which reminds me . . . British Airways is getting a lot of stick in the UK for, inter alia, its baggage handling performance. What’s strange about this criticism is that BA’s not a Spanish-owned company. Ironically, though, it may soon be the owner of Iberia. In which case, the Spanish can have their revenge and go to town on it.