Indecisive
President Rajoy apparently can't even decide to be indecisive. Three
days after he announced he didn't intend to make any further changes
to his cabinet, he's summarily replaced his most unpopular minister,
the one with the Education, Sports and Culture portfolio. The
question remaining is whether his number 2 - coincidentally also his
fiancée - will now go as well. Just before their wedding.
My
bank was recently taken over by another. This has meant a great deal
of paper-shuffling, letter-receiving, form-filling, (expired) ID-producing,
photocopying, signature-giving and, of course, confusion-generating.
Not to mention an inability to follow my instructions. So, having
visited my former bank 2 days ago, yesterday I visited my new bank,
where (inescapable) face-to-face discussion with a charming young
lady finally got things together. Though I still don't know which of
my old cards will function next week. As I said last week, it's one
thing being retired here and having the time to do all this and it's
another being at work and trying to do it by phone.
By
the way . . . If you're used to the sparse banks of the UK - where
just about everything is done by phone or the internet - you'd be
shocked to see the 12 desks that dot the lobby of my bank - to deal
with customers who wander in off the street with no appointment. All
part of the (expensive) personal service that many Spaniards still
demand. Especially if they can't use the internet.
I
cited, the other day, the views of the chap who said he hated Spain.
I demurred with his perspectives but I forgot to mention that it was
surely relevant he lived in one of those parts of Spain which
have been ruined by tourism and an influx of criminals. Here in
Galicia, we only get tourists in July and August and they're 95%
Spanish, fleeing the heat elsewhere. They don't vomit in the streets
and they pay the same (low) tips as we do. So, the lesson is clear:
if you want to speak English and eat "Good English Food" at
6pm, there's a real risk you'll end up hating Spain. But, as I say
here, it won't really be Spain. And I'd hate it as well.
Finally
. . . If you've any interest in Scotland, here's an article
discussing what the Nats have (or haven't) done there since they came
to power.
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