Dawn

Dawn

Sunday, September 05, 2010

The perils of living on this coast. After yesterday’s fabulous weather, the Atlantic Blanket descended on us today, only lifting very late in the morning. Which was a pleasant surprise.

Having dismissed both the president and the leader of the opposition yesterday – Señores Zapatero and Rajoy, respectively – I couldn’t help but think of them again today, when reading Dr Johnson’s famous quote that “There is no settling orders of precedence between a louse and a flea". One wonders how many copies of his autobiography each of these would sell. I guess it rather depends on the size of their families.

As for government at a higher level, our Ambrose here talks of the creation of a true debt union by Brussels. Which would be one way to effectively shackle Germany. Or at least force it to become a ‘good’ EU member - i. e. one more willing to finance the profligate ones. Or at least incapable of avoiding financing them. Meanwhile – and you really couldn’t make it up – “Belgium is in the odd position of presiding over Europe without having its own government.” Now, this truly is rule by the unelected. Can’t be long before the revolution.

Revolt, though, appears to be something that – despite the recession – is not in the Spanish air. Only 9% of workers are said to be planning to join the general strike scheduled by the unions for the end of this month. Not surprisingly, more than 70% of the populace don’t believe this is going to take place.

Another couple of huge apartment blocks in Vigo have been declared illegal after several years of various court processes. They’ve been sentenced to demolition but I wouldn’t exactly be astonished if there were to be a reprieve, followed by some sort of ex-post-facto legalization. As is the way here. The same thing is happening on a much larger scale down in Marbella. As I say, I guess it makes sense to someone. But why bother with the lengthy interim farce of the legal procedures? I guess it keeps the lawyers off the streets. And gives the appearance of due procedure.

Finally . . . If you believe that Galicia/Galiza is one of the seven Celtic countries – and not everyone does – this blog may be of interest. The writer says we have in Galicia the purest form of Celtic tradition, unsullied by Medieval influence. Just as you would if, say, it had all been invented after the Middle Ages, during the Romantic age. But, as I always say, there’s no harm in this. And it’s good for tourism. The writer goes on to make even more contentious claims but you’ll have to click on the link to see them.


Tailnote for new readers: My elder daughter has now net-published two chapters of a novel she describes as “A fast-paced political thriller but, above all, a personal tale of pride and paranoia.” Set in a fictionalised Cuba, it’s being e-published one chapter per week. Click here, if this entices you. If you do go and you enjoy it, please comment. It’s tough being a novelist. And the father of a novelist.

No comments: