The big complaint of the moment is that prices at the petrol stations are not tracking the reductions in the headline price of oil. 5% against 20%, it's said. But I suspect there's a lag when they go up as well. Which we never moan about, of course. For the record, the cheapest I've seen petrol in these parts is 1.23 a litre, against 1.29 last week.

To be more positive, TVE has announced that we're getting several more channels in 2010, including one dedicated to culture. If they eschew dubbing, I might be able to enjoy it.

A reader suggested recently that you couldn't get good wine cheaply in supermarkets. Well, a certain supermarket is offering Rioja at 0.72 each, if you buy two. And Albariño at 1.36 each, on the same basis. I have my doubts, though, about their drinkability.

Quote of the week: -It's not just the economic downturn that has harmed the green order. People have become wary of environmental causes that can turn out to do more harm than good. They don't want wind turbines marching across the countryside when nuclear power stations can do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. . . They worry that the massive incentives for biofuels have distorted the world food market, and that green taxes are actually stealth taxes
- Alice Thomson, British columnist, suggesting that common sense may be breaking out.

A sign of desperation? Some poor soul arrived at my blog yesterday after putting this in his/her search engine - how to sue a funcionario in spain . . . Time for an old joke - With difficulty.

Galicia Facts

For the last 3 or 4 months, Galicia has bucked the trend of rising unemployment. For one thing, it's summer - when more jobs are available along the coast - and, for another, Galicia is said to have been less affected by the mad rush to greed-driven construction. Though you wouldn't think so, if you looked out of any of my windows.

Which reminds me, I think my bet for the completion of the houses at the front of my place was after June this year. But I now suspect I could be out by at least one but probably two years. I now have a bet on not only with my net-friend Biopolitical but also with Nice-but-Noisy Tony next door. Except that I may already have won the former.

A Galician success story - A local company has been chosen to participate in a major fashion event in New York. It's called Cadelín and it designs clothes for dogs. You can read all about it here. Galicia may well be relatively poor but there are clearly some people rich enough to be daft. Incidentally, mu guess is that the first syllable of the company's name comes from the Gallego for 'dog' - can. As in cave canem. The Spanish, of course, is perro.

There's said to be a wave of heat hitting Spain from Africa. But it appears to have met stiff competition from our local friend the Atlantic Ocean, at least along this coast. It was 'only' 23 or 24 here yesterday, though I think Ourense up in the hills was as hot as 36 or more. Today is forecast to be relatively cool in all of Green Spain, the northern third of the country. Which is fine with me. And most Galicians, actually. The visiting Madrileños might find it a tad cold but I suspect even they prefer it to the macadam-melting temperatures of Madrid and elsewhere this week.

If you live in Sada or Celanovo, this may be a good time to invest in security devices for your home. For it seems that the other wave to hit Galicia recently is one of sickness among the police of these towns. The forces are said to be down to a third of their establishment owing to some sort of summer illness that appears to have singled them out.

Finally, the Anglo Galician Association. There's a [temporary!] server hitch for those signing up, meaning that you might not get an email confirming your registration. However, if you find that - using the password you submitted - you can participate by, say, starting a new thread, then you're registered.

If you decide you want to go on the AGA circulation list, please write to me at angalass@gmail.com