Spanish matters. And Brexit.

Spanish (non)Government: A dose of reality for the far-left Podemos party that's keeping the socialists out of power? Since the high of 28% of electorate support in January 2015, they've now fallen to only 15%, compared with 21% in December's general elections. Perhaps the voters are fed up with the stubborn arrogance demonstrated by these 'pure' far-left political tyros and, especially, with their abstentions which are keeping the right-wing PP party in power. So, stand by for some softening in their unrealistic demands. In order to avoid losing even more support and negotiating leverage in any June elections they effectively bring about. And which would surely result in another irritating and worrying stalemate.

Spanish TV: Staying with Spanish friends, I've had the fortune to see more of this than usual. Without doubt, Telecinco is the worst of a poor bunch of channels, showing 6 hours of dross between 4pm and 10pm and, some nights, another 4+ hours between 10pm and 2.15am. The former is a 'current events discussion' (i. e. gossip) program called Sálvame and the latter is Celebrity Big Brother. Examples of Sálvame can be seen here and here. To enjoy these barrel-scraping programs, it undoubtedly helps to have been lobotomised. Or at least to have spent years watching them so that your brain has progressively spongiformed, like that of a mad cow. In the way smoking works perniciously on the lungs. It also helps to to enjoy ugly people shouting at each other.

Spanish Gypsies: These tend to be more colourful than the Irish travellers variety. Up in the Galician city of Ferrol yesterday, things at a kid's birthday party got a little out-of-hand when the 4-600 attendees took to brawling. In the subsequent melée one of the adult males was stabbed to death and many others injured by broken bottles and items of furniture. Dozens of local and national police descended on the scene but, having been beaten off, called on the military in the form of the Guardia Civil. Whose 5 patrols eventually restored calm, if not peace. I have a suspicion no one will be prosecuted, as witnesses will be hard to find. But a new tribal war may well break out and last many years yet.

Finally . . . Jávea: This is an ex-fishing village between Alicante and Valencia. For good reason, it's known as the jewel, the pearl and/or the secret of the Costa Blanca. But don't tell anyone, as it's already overflowing with foreigners. It's undoubtedly pretty and quite upmarket but the incomers have generally raised prices, in comparison with authentic Spain. Specifically, some research suggests that restaurants have adopted the iniquitous Anglo habit of charging twice the retail price for a bottle of wine. That said, it's still probably relatively cheap to the expatriates who live here, either for part or all of the year. If I wanted to be British, I'd certainly consider living here. Despite the fact I couldn't get a simple coffee at a nearby place this morning. The standard café con leche cost €1.90 and came with froth. And a long spoon to mix its 3 layers. Que va! It's Spain, Jim, but not as we know it.

BREXIT SUPPLEMENT

A British survey throws up Liverpool, parts of Wales, barrios of London and the whole of Scotland as the most enthusiastic supporters of the EU. What they have in common, of course, is relative poverty and a love of EU subventions. What the Spanish always refer to as 'solidarity', at least when the money flows from Brussels and not towards it. And who can blame anyone?

FB fotos:

A notice in the toilet of the place I had my coffee in yesterday:

I've often seen signs saying No Dogs Here, but here's one saying almost the opposite - No Kids Here. Because it's a sand box for canines to do their stuff in.