Well, I’ve received the promised ‘brief report’ from my gas supplier (Repsol), after their two visits to check my set-up when they knew I was out of the house and their refusal to even consider a time convenient to me. This amounts to a statement that they’re now going to report me to the Galician government, so that it can decide whether or not to cut off my gas. And they point out that, should there be an explosion, my insurance company will not cough up a red bean. Finally, they offer me a phone number to call to arrange a special visit, doubtless at considerable cost to me. Sadly, this passes for customer service in Spain. One of the things that has not noticeably improved during my nine years here. Or am I being too harsh?

Talking of the Galician government . . . The world may be crumbling around us but the really important subject of the moment here is not how much the Galician PP party has been involved in the national corruption imbroglio, but whether it should be La Coruña or A Coruña on our maps and road signs. As I’m wont to say . . . God help us.

But it’s not all bad news. Tomorrow – Thursday – one of my candidate plumbers is coming to talk about replacing my boiler. And at the exact time of 10.30! One of the items for discussion is why his quote is 10% above that for my neighbour for the same thing only six months ago. My guess it’s the infamous ‘foreigners’ tax’. But we will see.

Meanwhile, a hearty welcome to the five or six new Followers of the last few days, especially my friend Dwight. Hits to this blog are now averaging more than 200 a day, which is more than gratifying. Even if many of these are a reflection of interest in the rantings of reader Cade. I’m not proud.

Of course, this welcome doesn’t apply if you were the person who arrived last night searching for ‘animal brothels in Spain’. I do draw the line somewhere.