I’ve made numerous references to Spanglish over the years. Here’s an article about a comprehensive web page on this.

It’s reported that the traffic police have hit a ‘goldmine’ with fines for the use of a mobile phone while driving, though the amount collected for this offence still comes a long way behind that for speeding. Is this the time for me to make my proposal they fit me with a small camera in my shirt lapel so that I can snap dozens of perpetrators each day as I walk into and out of town? Especially on the roundabout. The commission should cover my own fines.

And talking of speeding . . . No great surprise to read the police are going to massively increase the number of radar traps next year. And that they forecast a very significant increase in income from this source, when everything else is falling. Nice to know they expect to cop 2.2 million drivers next year, some of whom may well be committing an offence at the time they are ticketed.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Pontevedra continues to delegitimise parking spaces in the city for no apparent reason beyond forcing cars off the road. Or perhaps into the fee-generating car parks.

Finally . . . Over on Wednesday’s Comments Section, Mr Cade continues to show he can get at least one hand out of the straight-jacket.

Publishing Note

These are the final additions to Galicia: The Switzerland of Spain . . .

Chapter 8: The Cathedral of Santiago
Chapter 9 : The Portico de Gloria
Chapter 10: Sculptured Capitals
Chapter 11: The Royal Hospital
Chapter 12 : La Colegiata de Sar
Chapter 17: Livestock of Galicia
Chapter18: Padron
Chapter 25: Galicia’s Great Monasteries
Chapter 27 : Dives Galaecia

The first four of these are really only for those who have a deep interest in buildings. Or a fascination with the question of whether the master-sculptor Mateo was French, Spanish or even Galician. Miss Deakin does give a masterly – if lengthy – description of the wonderful Portico de Gloria in Santiago Cathedral but, to do it justice, you need to be standing underneath it with a print-out of the chapter in your hand. And with an hour or two to spare.

But the chapter on the Royal Hospital (now the hotel of Los Reyes Católicos) is not such heavy going. And that on the Colegiata de Sar is delightful. While that on livestock is mildly fascinating on the subject pigs in Santiago. Even the chapter on the great monasteries has its charm at times. And has certainly given me one or two more places to visit.

In her final chapter (27), Ms Deakin takes an impassioned leave of Galicia, possibly going overboard in the process. In doing so, she shows I was wrong to think she was at her most lyrical in an earlier chapter. If you read no others, give this one a go.

It’s a great shame we don’t have Ms Deakin’s 1907 photos so good luck to anyone who tries to track down a copy of the original book.