Well, I’ve been advising of its imminence for what seems like years but here it is at last. The new online journal – Galicia 21. I can’t say I was much surprised to read this sentence in a Bangor University commentary on the development:- “In Galicia, the journal's first issue has been the subject of some controversy, as it includes an article on Galician language policies authored by the present secretary general of the Galician Language Board, Anxo Lorenzo.” Talk about asking for trouble.

Less controversial, here’s a travel agent splurge on our region/country/nationality/nation. By the way, the advice for pronunciation of Xacobeo is wrong whether you say it in Gallego or use the Spanish version.

If you're attracted by the thought of buying something here, an LSE professor who’s an expert on this subject has this to say about the property market here. Though I'm not sure he's right as regards semi-ruins being sold by Galician peasants who are in no rush to get rid of their inheritance.

I see that academics from around the world have now completed their 11 year-long task of producing a new grammar of the Castellano language, including its Latin American and regional variations. This has been published by the Spanish Royal Academy and, at more 3,000 pages in two volumes, it should be enough to satisfy the Spanish obsession with grammar. At least in their own language. I fear they’ll have to wait a while for an English equivalent. Which reminds me . . . One of the said academics was reported to have cliamed this work will serve to “defend Spanish against English and information technology”. Well, maybe.

In a survey done by one of our local papers, 70% of readers said they didn’t believe Sr Zapatero’s assurances that the recession was just about to end and that things would be better soon. How this ranks as news, I really don’t know.

Spain’s population grew by 1.3% last year, to 46.8m. This compares, I believe, with about 40 million at the start of this decade and reflects very significant immigration. Galicia’s growth, at 0.4%, was only higher than that of Castilla y León at 0.2. I guess that, without incoming foreigners, both would have declined.

A couple of years back, I mentioned the Leaning Lamposts of Poio, where I live. Well, as you can see, they're still leaning. I’m wondering what it will take to stimulate adjustment. Perhaps the second one falling on some unfortunate soul putting stuff in one of the bins below it.


Finally . . . Having praised Ryan Giggs a number of times over the years, I was pleased to see this 35 year old was given BBC’s Sports Person of the Year award this weekend. Even if he does play for the wrong team.