In the UK, petrol prices are highest down in the rich south east of the country. It’s exactly the opposite in Spain. Prices are highest up here in the north west, where we’re statistically among the poorest. It must make sense to someone. Most obviously in the boardrooms of the petrol companies.

According to Lycos, the wives of the world’s 100 richest men, divide up as follows:-
Brunettes: 62%
Blondes: 22%
‘Raven-haired’ women: 16%
Redheads: None
This is surely odd and must seem unfair to the lovely auburn-tressed ladies of the world. Unless, rich or poor, you’ve been married to one. I guess . . .

So, the consensus now appears to be that the world will get colder for several years before it starts to warm up again. Or, as Christopher Booker puts it - The proponents of man-made global warming have become so rattled by how the forecasts of their computer models are being contradicted by the data that some are rushing to modify the thesis. This is, of course confusing. But at least there’s a debate taking place among experts on the internet, if not in our traditional media. In fact, says Mr Booker, It is striking, in view of the colossal implications of the current response to "the greatest challenge confronting mankind" how this hugely important debate is almost entirely overlooked by the media. And he goes on to say - On one hand our politicians are committing us to spending unimaginable sums on wind farms, emissions trading schemes, absurdly ambitious biofuel targets, and every kind of tax and regulation designed to reduce our "carbon footprint" - all based on blindly accepting the predictions of computer models that the planet is overheating due to our output of greenhouse gases. On the other hand, a growing number of scientists are producing ever more evidence to show how those computer models are based on wholly inadequate data and assumptions. I can, of course, personally attest to the vast sums being spent on ugly wind farms. And I’d be the first to rejoice if a reversal of orthodox thinking led to them being dismantled. But it’s not going to happen, is it. Too many people have too many interests vested in the status quo.

You have to hand it to them - The leaders of Spain’s storm-battered construction industry have demanded that the main political parties get together and come up with a strategy to improve the country’s image among overseas investors. Hard, though, to see this resulting in the public hanging – or even mere flogging – of the corrupt builders, politicians, lawyers, estate agents, etc. who are responsible for whatever image Spain might have. Or even in a jail sentence or two.

To be more positive – It’s good to be able to report that road deaths in April were ‘only’ 164, against 314 in 2003 and 432 in 1989. But it will probably surprise few to hear that the welcome annual reductions are not being matched among motorcyclists. Spanish youths, it seems, hand over their brains as part of the payment for these.

Galicia Facts

Two things I never thought I’d ever write . . .
1. I dined at Pontevedra’s vegetarian restaurant yesterday, and
2. The lasagne was excellent.
However, the place has recently converted itself into a vegetarian-restaurant-cum-creperie and, as a result, now offers meat in several of its dishes. That old Spanish pragmatism again.

Actually, I’ve also recently patronised Pontevedra’s new creperie-cum-creperie and can report it’s a welcome addition to the city’s culinary range. I’m hoping that some enterprising soul now has the courage to open a Staffordshire Oat-cakerie to show the pseudo Frogs how it’s really done.