Today’s pledge/bribe from the government – They will subsidise a day-care centre for children under three in any workplace where at least 6 people request one. Stand by for an explosion in the crèche industry.

In the TV debate the other night, each of the combatants called the other a liar on more than one occasion. This would be unimaginable in the UK – where subtlety would be used – but is par for the course here in blunt and direct-speaking Spain.

I asked the other day whether other countries have as many kamikaze drivers as Spain, meaning people who drive down the wrong side of major roads. But, from this headline, it seems we now have something even worse to worry about - Fernando Alonso going backwards at Montmeló.

Talking about the country’s politicians, a British columnist writes:- The idea that being corrupt, self-serving and sly are qualifications for public life exerts an ever-tougher grip on the national consciousness. Looked at from Brussels, though, this must rank as a good thing – evidence of the much-desired ‘convergence’ between the UK and the EU. My impression is there’s less need for convergence between politicians in Brussels and those in Spain. Especially the local variety.

You can buy Rioja wine in Spain’s supermarkets for as little as €2 a bottle. So I wasn’t too surprised to read that most of what’s on the shelves is rubbish. More worrying was the comment you need to pay at least €10 for a decent Rioja. Or $14/₤7.50. Maybe I’m now out of touch but this would seem to be at a level regarded as high even in the UK, where the tax component of the price is huge. But it’s true I’ve only ever felt Rioja started to taste appreciably better at around €14 a bottle here. Though, at the very least, still very palatable at 6 or 8.

Spanish TV has discounted 110,000 ‘irregular’ votes for one of the candidates for the country’s Eurovision entrant. As a result, the 70 year old Andalucian flamenco singer fell from 1^st to 36^th place. This is a shame for a number of reasons, one of which is that I can’t now make play with his name of El Gato. As in El Jato or El Ghato. Missed opportunity. Which reminds me . . .

Quote of the day

Bloggers are people who like the look of their own voice.

Galicia Facts

The additional driving risk I cited at the top of this blog won’t concern us too much here in Galicia, where local habits continue to give us the highest insurance premiums in the country. Apparently it’s all the fault of the bendy roads, the rain and the fact that towns are dispersed. If all these were put right, our drivers would be the best in the world. Even when not exactly sober. So, though God can’t move mountains, perhaps the Galician Nationalist party can when it gets us independence. Or even when it achieves its current aim of becoming the power broker in Madrid. As a first step, presumably.

My next-door neighbour, Tony, works on oil-tankers. So, he’s at home day and night for 6 noise-filled weeks and then away for the next 6. I will be in the UK for 3 weeks later in the year and I’ve just realised that these will coincide with one of his much-enjoyed absences. What an appalling waste. But for the timing of my mother’s birthday, I’d change my plans. What a dutiful son.