There were reported to be riots all over Europe yesterday, May Day. Or Labour Day. But not here in Spain, where unemployment is the highest in Europe. We only had demonstrations. Even stranger, those of the unions were in favour of the government, in contradistinction to everywhere else. This is because neither the government nor the unions appear to have read the script according to which Spain is supposed to undergo structural reforms in lieu of devaluations when times are bad. Or preferably before. But, as I’ve said, they weren’t tried in the good times and President Z has said he’s certainly not going to make up for lost time now that there’s a crisis. Actually, I think I know what his plan is – he’s aiming to ensure Spain’s unemployment levels are still so high by 2011 that he can make a good case for continuation of the EU subventions that are supposed to stop in 2013. Maybe he’s not as dense as he appears to be.

If you thought it might be impossible to find people more stupid that those who give free advertising by wearing clothes with the name or logo of the manufacturer all over them, then step forward the young man in Pontevedra this morning who was wearing a T-shirt with something like this emblazoned all over the back of it:-
Brand X
The Best Denim
Brand.
Of course, it didn’t say ‘Brand X’ but I’m certainly not going to give them any free publicity.

Driving into Pontevedra this evening at 7.30, the traffic returning from the beaches seemed a lot heavier than it should be on a lovely warm evening. Then I realised it’s the Real Madrid v. Barca game at 8.45. This is always the biggest of the season but it's even more important this year, as the outcome will effectively decide who wins the championship. So, time to move from this wi-fi cafe to the gay bar where I'm usually the only person watching the TV and so assured of a good seat . . . Which is a bit of an ambiguous statement, now that I think about it.

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