According to Travelodge, a higher percentage of English kids [57] have been to Spain than to either Wales [44%] or Scotland [39%]. Understandably, I guess.

The first of the predicted fusions between some of Spain's 40 or more savings banks[cajas] has taken place, in the Basque Country. And another 4 or 5 elsewhere have formed some sort of working association that falls short of merger. More anon, no doubt.

As for big bank failures, the Economics minister is reported to have said that the government will cap the salaries of the directors of "those banks which are rescued". But I may be grabbing at straws here as it's possible this isn't exactly what he said. Or that he meant those banks which are given liquidity assistance. We will see.

At this time of year, Spanish families descend on cemeteries to honour their departed loved ones and to clean their resting places. If you've noticed a higher-than-average number of cars driving around with ladders sticking out of the window, these will be the relatives of those laid to rest in the highest niches in the strange little apartment blocks which dominate Spanish cemeteries.

Galicia

There was a rather bizarre notice in the Voz de Galicia today. It was inserted by the Ateneo Repúblicano de Galicia and it levies the complaint that, since it came under the management of the Galician Nationalist Party, La Coruña's Casa Museo Casares Quirozo has been used for events that have little to do with the original purpose of the museum. These are said to include conferences on textiles, contemporary art and forest fires. Plus something referred to as Tuppersex para mulleres. So at least it was in Gallego.

Possibly even more bizarrely, the hazards that we have to negotiate on our highways now include big brown bears. One of which was hit on the main route from the centre of Spain up to La Coruña this week.

Our regional elections take place next spring. I believe it will be illegal to indulge in electioneering until a month or so from the actual polling date. Which is a rule that will be honoured more in the breach than in observance. In fact, campaigns effectively began weeks ago and I suspect we'll see more and more headlines along the lines of this one yesterday - "It's a campaign based entirely on lies", says Sr, X. In Spain, politicians are probably no more dishonest than those anywhere else. The difference lies in the frequency with which they publicly label each other blatant liars. Hey ho. What fun.