Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain
Spanish politics- Here's the estimable Guy Hedgcoe on the impasse.
- And here's The Corner on the subject. Taster: We are heading to new elections, expensive and unnecessary. The feeling is that the parties have not fulfilled their part of the social contract and are wearing out the institutions, sending Spaniards to vote until the chosen result emerges. But chosen by whom? Spaniards received the news last night that we will have to vote again in a state of stupor. For 5 years the political parties have been unable to weave the minimal network of mutual confidence. The Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, from the socialist party, yesterday blamed his political opponents, both on the right (Partido Popular and Ciudadanos) and on the left (Podemos) of the blockage. But what is certain is that they have all shown themselves incompetent. The British disease?
- A tallish story?
- More on one aspect of Spain's 'crazy' horario - the daily schedule of students and workers.
- In an article in one of our local papers yesterday, it was reported that - even though their leaders are in jail - the local gypsies are running rings around the police and the Guardia Civil when it comes to hiding their drug dealing. The only solution to the problem of the procession of addicts, says someone, is to move the gypsy settlement to somewhere else. Possibly Tambo island. Can't see that happening. As reported, the local authority can't even stop the illegal trading down in the Sunday flea market. And there's been talk of this 'solution' for at least the 19 years I've been here. While more and more illegal shacks have been built.
- It's reported that - after a less than normally hot summer - our grapes this year are small. So wine volumes will be lower and prices higher.
- Which reminds me . . . Reader Scrooge has kindly advised that the Catalana grape is a synonym for the Monastrell grape, known in France as Mourvèdre and in Cataluña as Mataró. Here in Spain, the names Monastrell Menudo and Monastrell Verdadero are used as synonyms for the grape variety Graciano. I hope that clears everything up for the few bon viveurs interested in this . . . One wonders just how many grape varieties - and synonyms and local names - there are around the world. At least thousands, is my guess.
- Things are looking very serious . . . EU leaders have given Boris Johnson an ultimatum to come up with a new Brexit plan by the end of September or face up to a no deal.
The USA
- Ffart loves 'the Hispanic', he avers. And tells us his support amongst it/them has risen by 17%. To all of 25%, it seems. He could be wasting his considerable breath on the rest of them.
Spanish
- Word of the Day: Novatada: Prank; practical joke.
English
- If you've gone to that list of Anglo-Saxon-derived words said to still being in use, you'll have seen some odd examples. Such as:-
- Ach
- Ack
- Addeem
- Adwesch
- Amain
- Arseling - Surely overdue for a comeback
- Asea
- Athel/Atheling
- Attercop
And that's just the letter A . . .
Finally
- A British TV ad for a - doubtless expensive - cream says it'll make stretch marks invisible, 'unless you know where to look for them'. As if we didn't know where . . .
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