In the Spanish parliament the country's
representatives regularly do a good impression of sheep - for example in
respect of the recent secret vote on the Abortion Bill. Over in
Turkey though, their oppos recently came to blows over the issue of
government control over the judges. That's how to do it! Even Russell
Brand might approve
Not a good week for the Scottish Nationalists.
First, the British government told them they couldn't have either the
pound or a currency union, if they go independent. Then, yesterday,
the EU President confirmed they'd have to formally apply to join the
EU, for which they'd have to get unanimous acceptance from 26 other
members, plus an antipathetic Spain. This, he felt, would be very difficult, if not
impossible. The reaction of the Scottish Nats was fourfold: 1.
Accusing the British government of bullying; 2. Insulting the EU
President by saying he was speaking rubbish; 3. Distorting the
comments of the Spanish Foreign Minister about the November
referendum; and 4. Insisting they could join the EU immediately as
all its rules were observed in Scotland - a justification which falls
within the category of True But Irrelevant. All in all, the signs are
their dream is coming apart at the seams. So it'll be interesting to
see how they fight back. As the pugnacious Mr Salmond surely will.
One thing is certain - there'll be more accusations of bullying and
possibly UK-EU collusion. Nationalists are always defined by
victimisation. But vamos a ver. No doubt they'll be watching in
Cataluña.
I had another excellent wild boar lunch on
Saturday, courtesy of my good friend Fran and his Porcos Bravos
colleagues. At one point a well-known female beggar came in and I
told Fran I didn't know he'd invited his sister. He looked at me
askance and in an aggrieved tone said this was rather insulting. I
answered that it was a good thing, then, I hadn't uttered my first
thought, viz. that his mother had arrived. Fran now looked decidedly
hurt and unamused and I was reminded that Scouse humour doesn't
always go down well in Galicia. Or possibly elsewhere.
Candidates for cost savings in Spain: Spain's 17
regions ("Autonomous Communities") have 149
pseudo-embassies in major cities around the world. I wonder how many
the British counties have. A quick look at the Wiki entry for Merseyside
suggests none there. But they must have at least one, in Brussells. Where the gravy train sets out from.
Galicia's big corruption case (Pokemón) has
thrown up that politicians, civil servants and police officers had
'dozens' of friends and relatives given jobs in companies appointed
to carry out contracts for public authorities. Which will surprise no
one, as nepotism and croneyism are Spain's gift to the world. Or South
America at least. That said, Spanish friends assure me it's not as
bad as 30 years ago, when no one could get a job without a personal
connection (enchufe).
I sometimes have a problem distinguishing between
the male and female figures on toilet doors. Most noticeably - and
embarrassingly - on our recent visit to Sevilla. I mention this
because in the bar where we enjoyed our wild boar (The Cheshire
Cat) the doors are signed - OS and - AS. What I don't know - but
Fran will tell me - is whether these are the Spanish male and female
plural suffixes or the Galician male and female definite articles.
Or, cleverly, both. Either way, it's hard to go through the female
door in error. Or harder than in one café in Sevilla, at least.
Finally . . . My daughter sent me this cartoon yesterday and I felt it worth sharing. It's an example of Irritable Owl Syndrome . . . .
Finally . . . My daughter sent me this cartoon yesterday and I felt it worth sharing. It's an example of Irritable Owl Syndrome . . . .
The Environment
Well, it duly rained
last night. And it's raining now. So . . .
January: 31 days. On
which it rained: 28 - 93%
February: 17 days. On which it
has rained: 17 - 100%.
So, 45 out of 48 - 94%, and rising.
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