Positive as I try to be, it’s getting increasingly hard to avoid mention of Spain’s rapidly deteriorating economy. ABC’s headline this morning screams that the housing market is drowning and that as many as 2.2 million jobs are at risk. The dread R word [recession] has even made its first appearance. Which probably explains why it was bloody mushrooms for tapas again today. And which, when I pulled a face, were replaced by a plate of unappetising cheese, instead of the jamon I usually get. This can’t go on. Let’s get this recession over and done with.

Talking of property – ABC also reports today that the agency set up to help young people rent flats by the woman who subsequently became Minister for the Armed Forces has turned into a fiasco. Let’s hope she has more luck in her new position. Otherwise we can forget Perejil island.

And still talking about the press – The head barman brought me the Correo Gallego today and asked me to explain a joke he was having difficulty finding funny. A man was searching for English lessons but everything was too expensive. Eventually he heard of a place charging only one euro an hour. So he called it and asked if this was true. To which the answer was [In English] – If, if. Between, between. After some reflection, I said I thought it was a play on the Spanish words Sí/Si [Yes/If] and entre [Come in/Between]. So? he asked, shrugging his shoulders. ‘Yes, not at all funny’, I replied. But I will have to leave it to experts to advise whether this is Spanish or Galician humour. Or just not humour at all. As we know it, Jim.

Recent correspondence with readers has thrown up the word hypocrisy, something which the British are said to be renowned for. Coincidentally, I’ve heard two BBC programs recently about a book by David Runciman in which he distinguishes between good and bad hypocrisy and says all societies need a modicum of the former. He says that George Orwell made a similar distinction between the good sort of hypocrisy which stopped Britain becoming a dictatorship in the 1930s and the bad sort surrounding the British Empire. The Spanish, of course, share the Continental view that the British – and not just the News of the World - are hypocrites but, for me, there’s little more hypocritical than a Spanish male who claims he’s relaxed about female sexuality but really regards all women as either whores or Madonnas, visits the former on Friday, confesses this on Saturday and then makes his weekly visit to his mother, the main Madonna, on Sunday. With his wife and kids, of course.

But talking of Britain, here’s a thought-provoking article which asks why the country has become ‘a more vicious place; fearful, suspicious and angry’. Where ‘adults are afraid of children and children afraid of nothing’.

Finally – Someone has plastered all over my letter box – and the nearby lamppost and rubbish contenadores – little green [of course] stickers advertising a dead pet pick-up service. It was hell of a job to get rid of these before Ryan could see them. I know he’s already suspicious of my plans to replace him with a Spanish galgo when he’s gone. And if there’s one thing you don’t want around your house it’s an angry border collie with a bad wind problem. Believe me. I’m an ex-lawyer.