The leader of the new socialist administration, Mr Zapatero, failed on Wednesday to become President of Spain, when only his own [minority governing] party supported his candidature. But he’ll be successfully elected today, when it seems it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, says or votes. No, I don’t understand it either. But I guess it keeps parliamentary tellers in employment. I imagine they have a guild, like the pharmacists, notaries and other ancient professionals.

I left England in the snow; I’ve just put my central heating back on here in Pontevedra; and now I read that, on top of no increases since 1998, climate experts forecast a drop in global temperatures this year. I assume all this must be compatible with the terror of global warming, though it’s hard to see how. At least from my standpoint of superficial knowledge and innate scepticism. Nonetheless, one must do what one can. So I continue to eschew plastic bags, to replace my light bulbs and to switch my TV off at night. And to buy products only from those companies with green credentials. Which, as far as I can tell from their adverts, is all of them. Apart from Carrefour, Epson and Nikon, of course. Oh yes, and Telefonica and El Corte Inglés.

I occasionally go on about the break-down in British society and the uncomfortable sensation I have there of being constantly vigilated and repressed. So I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to tell you about a local council which used anti-terrorist laws to initiate round-the-clock surveillance of a couple whom it [wrongly] thought was committing the heinous crime of bending the rules to get their kid into the school of their choice. The council naturally defends its right to use provisions designed to deal with organised crime and terrorism in order to catch anyone involved in any "criminal activity". Totally predictable, of course. Except by the Those-who-are-innocent- will-have-nothing-to-fear brigade.

Nor can I resist giving you these quotes from an article on violent crime amongst Britain’s feral youth:-
- In a land without morals, it's no wonder children kill each other.
- From the curse of coarse behaviour and the blight of litter to casual violence and extreme physical abuse, there is a pervasive nastiness rotting away at this country's foundations.

- Manners are disappearing, along with courtesy and shame.

- Apologists are quick to blame deprivation. If only it were that simple.

Galicia Facts

The regional government has decided to investigate the abuses involved in employing Portuguese labourers in construction projects. With the ten-year building boom now well and truly over, this might seem a tad late but there are, of course, major public works to complete, or even initiate. Most obviously the belated high-speed AVE train. So, the government will, in fact, be investigating practices carried out by its own contractors. Nice. It’s all far too late for the mozos who worked a 12 hour day in all weather conditions on the site in front of my house.

The rain which fell here in the three days between Sunday and Wednesday nights exceeded that for the whole of February. Which was a nice welcome home. Though not quite on a par with that of my dog, Ryan. As you’d expect from a 14 year-old border collie of strong opinions, he evidenced his annoyance at being left here by turning his back on me and keeping his tail rigidly still.

Talking of water in Galicia – Does anyone have any idea why so many cars fall into the sea here? It surely can’t be the same reason so many of them come up against trees and lampposts. Can it? The latest incident was put down to a faulty handbrake. Which probably says more about an aversion to regular maintenance than anything else.

Finally – When I got back home on Monday, there was the usual evidence I still had one mouse living in the top of my fridge and another in my washing machine. The humane trap having failed to entice either of them into captivity, I yesterday bought two traditional traps and put them in the garage and kitchen. This morning the former was untouched but the latter had disappeared. I finally found it sticking out of the back of the fridge, attached to the foot of the mouse trying to get back to its polystyrene home in the penthouse suite. So I put the creature in the humane trap and will release it in the forest this morning. Now for the washing machine occupant!