Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain
Spain
- One way to earn a living, I guess.
- Which reminds me . . . We've recently acquired our first living statue here in Pontevedra. I've wondered how he feels when people take a foto of someone next to him and then walk away without contributing even 50 centimos to his income. As he doesn't move, apparently philosophically.
- This is an (American) chap talking about the Camino Francés and some of the cities it passes through, especially Pamplona. He refers to the Jacobean 'myths' but without a trace of scepticism. Likewise the Galician 'Celtic heritage'. Go to minute 23.20 for views of the famous botafumeiro incense burner. And of people hugging a statue.
- By the way, when he says mowthows, he's referring - I eventually figured out - to mozos, the slang term for young men. 'lads', I guess. Though one site I use also gives 'waiter', 'porter' and 'groom'. While the Royal Academy heads its 15 meanings with: 1. Joven, por su poca edad o por las características de joven que conserva. 2. Soltero, célibe.
- The Pontevedra Sunday Flea Market - Chapter 4: The city council now says there are 54, not 35, licensed traders. They had the 'wrong list', they claim. But face has been saved by insisting that the market must move from in front of the market building and its new Gastrespacio. Possibly to a nearby square which I've noted is the quietest in the city. Apart from one day in early September.
The UK
- Dog racing is always the highlight of the Orford fête. It's as near as Suffolk gets to Pamplona’s running of the bulls. The fun is trying to predict which breed in each category will catch the bone. Though, if I’m honest, the best part is the chaos: a false start when a dog overwhelms his child-owner and lunges for the bone; or when a mismatched pair start humping in the arena. Or, as this year, when there’s a fight. The dog race is basically a blood sport and it’s absolutely thrilling. As a friend remarked: “They’ll ban it soon.”
- Richard North today: Something about Brexit is all too apparent – nothing to do with it is simple. The law of unintended consequences might have been written for Brexit, as every time there seems to be a solution to an otherwise intractable problem, something else crops up which has us back where we started.
- Meanwhile . . . A question we've all asked:-
Nutters Corner
- Pastor Francis Myles, last seen saying Trump isn’t racist because God told him so, claimed that the Bible is the real Constitution of the USA.
The USA
- If there's one thing funnier that Ffart's antics, it's the US media commentators struggling to give credence to them. Compulsive late-night TV viewing for me. As you might have guessed. Who'd have thought there could be so many levels of disbelief? And such a struggle to find adjectives to describe Ffart's character, personality, (in)sanity, and - of course - his doings? Maybe it'll come to a head if and when Deutsche bank confirms he's been financed by Russian oligarchs close to Putin.
Spanish
- Word of the Day: Coraje
Finally . . .
- The birds in my garden seem to be taking the mickey out of me. Until The Great Disappearance, there were always at least 2 of each kind, except - of course - for the solitary (territorial) robin. But last evening there was just one wild pigeon, one collared dove, one greenfinch, and one blackbird. Along with said single robin. I am not amused.
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