Insulted Galicians; Greek diplomacy; The Spanish consumer fights back; Galician winter weather; and more sacerdotal sex

The dictionary of the Spanish Academy used to include – and may still do so – definitions of the word ‘Galician’ (Gallego) which included ‘stupid’ and ‘stammering’. So, it was bound to ruffle feathers in the Galician dovecot when the lady(?) leader of a small Spanish political party referred to the Spanish President as “A Gallego in the most pejorative sense of the word.” Not content with that, she then went on to describe the Leader of the Opposition in just one word – Gallego. Which at least happens to have the merit of being strictly true, as he’s from Pontevedra. But that’s not what she meant, of course. Is it any wonder that people question the calibre of would-be national politicians here?

Insensitive and arrogant as she now seems, the woman in question clearly ranks as a diplomatic genius next to Greece’s deputy prime minister. Despite the fact his government has a large cap in its hand, he’s taken to insulting the country’s main benefactors, Germany. Thieving Nazis, apparently. The Germans are naturally less than impressed with this and one wonders whether it's increased the chances of Greece’s bailout coming from the IMF, rather than the EU. This was politically unacceptable yesterday but, as they say, a week is a long time in politics

In Ireland, civil servants have had their salaries cut and I believe the same might be in store for their colleagues in Greece. Here in Spain, though, the government has said the funcionarios will merely have the rate of increase reduced in a year or two. Which might not be too painless, given that in recent years – 2009 included – their pay has increased more than the rate of inflation. They must be shivering under the cold winds of austerity.

Talking of which, click here for the latest bit of pessimism about Spain’s economy from the Wall Street Journal. Which is a senior member, of course, of the Anglo-Saxon Conspiracy. I particularly liked the comment from one observer – “Spaniards don't yet understand that their comfortable way of life, cushioned by the state, is about to change. They still think like Cubans and live like Yankees”. And I fear he wasn’t only talking about civil servants, who at least appear to have every justification to think and act like this.

The Spanish Consumers’ Association is asking us to vote for The Worst Spanish Company, The Worst Business Practice and The Worst Advertisement. The competition is expected to be very tough but the cast-iron forecast is that no winner will take the slightest bit of notice of the odium accruing. Customers in Spain are even more of a nuisance than elsewhere.

Yes another day of high winds and heavy rain here in Galicia. But the good news is that things will quieten down tomorrow. Before the worst storm of the winter hits us on Saturday night. I'b better take a foto of the cherry blossom during the lull tomorrow. It could be in for a very brief appearance.

Finally . . . It seems the priest I cited last night also worked as a gigolo to part-fund his extramural activities. He boasted he was well-hung. But not from a cross, I guess. I like the fact one of his parishes is called Noez, which is quite close to the word nuez, meaning ‘nut’. By the way - the priest confessed to parishioners during a recent mass that he had "misused their donations". Now, there’s true diplomacy at work!