It seems that foreigners' perceptions of the British have improved as a result of the Olympic Games. We're not seen as grumpy as we used to be. One British commentator took issue with this today - I think the problem might be that other nations have confused the sense of humour we demonstrated in the opening ceremony of the Olympics with bonhomie. It’s much more about self-deprecation, which in turn is a reflection of our innate self-loathing. We are at our happiest when we are laughing at ourselves. Which is why we don't mind foreigners coming to Britain and writing books critical of us. The most famous and successful being "How to be an Alien" by the Hungarian writer George Mikes. As it says here, this “pokes gentle fun at the English and their relationship with foreigners.” Well worth reading.

Here in Spain, there's not much laughter about. Today's papers were naturally full of comment and analysis around the secret multi-million euro fund managed by the Treasurer of the governing PP party over the last 20 years or more. The opposition PSOE party - itself infamous for the corruption of Spain's first democratic administration – has inevitably announced it'll be initiating legal processes. On this, the joke doing the rounds is that the Treasurer will be tried and, after several years, be found guilty, sentenced to a term in jail, then pardoned and appointed to the Telefónica board. A well-worn track.

It hasn't taken long for the suggestion to emerge that this whirlwind has been created by those within the PP party who don't regard Rajoy as the legitimate president and want to bring him down. At any price, it would seem. But, then, one often feels that politicians in Spain don't give a damn what is thought about them. Which reminds me, the demand for an inquiry into the croneyism and nepotism of the ex (PP) President of the Ourense provincial government has been rejected by the current President. His son.

Talking of pardons . . . El País today reported – in English – on the case of the kamikaze driver who last year killed someone when driving the wrong way down an autopista. He was given a 13 year sentence, which was later commuted to a 4,000 euro fine. This was done by the Cabinet, who felt it was persuasive that the guy had “given two irrevocable, sympathetic apologies.” As I say, politicians here seem oblivious to public opinion. Or just arrogantly dismissive. More on this here.

Finally . . . I quite like drawing up lists and here's one I did a month or two ago. It's an attempt to identify where Spanish uses capitals and where it doesn't, in the process highlighting the differences with English. It's a work-in-progress, so incomplete. And possibly wrong but, what the hell, it's Sunday:-

YES

The Government

The Army

The Navy

The State

The Council

The Civil Guard

History

Cities

Countries

Forenames

Surnames

El Supremo - Supreme court

Oriente Proximo - Near East

Defensa - Ministry of Defence

Embassy

NO

british, polish, spanish, etc.

monday, tuesday, et.

january, february, etc.