Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain
Spanish Life - I submitted my application for Irish citizenship yesterday. It was a simple process but it had one quintessentially Spanish aspect. We now ask for 3, not 2 [as in their notes] proofs of residence. Le falta un papel, usted. But at least I can email the 3rd to them. And it doesn't need to be evidenced by someone 'professional'. Or, worse, a notary.
- As I waited at the window, a chap came in to get a replacement passport for one stolen when a car blocked his in a narrow street and a couple got out, apologised and sought directions. And then walked off with some of his stuff. My God, said the Irish lady at the window, they're getting really sophisticated.
- The OECD has postponed the Spanish results on student reading in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) due to "anomalies" they detected. Some data, they aver, showed 'unlikely response behaviour from students'. Of whom some managed to answer 20 questions in 25 seconds. It reminded me of the most popular answer to the question posed by an English teacher friend of mine to his young pupils. Q. Who is your best friend? A. The one who lets me copy his exam answers.
- Talking of key questions . . . The Spanish public was asked: Is corruption properly punished in Spain? 97% said no. Where do the 3% live, I wonder. Moncloa?
- Driving in Spain:-
- Barcelona will restrict cars in a zone 20 times bigger than Madrid's. Anything you can do, we can do better. Because we're Catalans . .
- The ever-helpful The Local gives us here vital info on road signs. And has a link to a guide to roundabouts which hardly anyone in Spain seems to have read. Or ever will. Especially as the driving schools are still teaching the wrong way both to enter and leave them.
- So obsessed is the UK print media with bloody Prince Andrew and the personalities of Johnson and Cornyn that it's hardly worth picking up a newspaper. Or going on line, I should say.
The EU
- Still telling the British government that a trade deal can't possibly be concluded between January and December 2020 but precious few people are listening. Certainly not Boorish Johnson, it seems.
- As predicted . . . Ffart has claimed that he barely knows Sondland and has only rarely spoken to him. As if that changed anything, even if it were true.
- I rather liked this description of him - Caught orange-handed.
- The nefarious influence of the major banks. Bottom line: It’s long past the time to remove the money button from the New York Fed along with its Wall Street cop badge. As it's currently structured, it’s more dangerous than the banks in its district.
- The Local adds to our understanding here of why the Spanish are behind the rest of the world when it comes to learning (or perhaps just talking) the global lingua franca.
- One theory I have it that they don't take on board how less important basic mistakes are in English compared with inflectional Spanish, and so persist in their fear of embarrassing themselves. I do my best to convince them to converse but feel I'm swimming against a tide.
- If you're an atheist who likes to be amused, this site could be of interest.
- And if you're a public figure with skeletons in your cupboard, this article certainly will be.
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