Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
- Christopher Howse: 'A Pilgrim in Spain'*
Covid in Spain
Good news re quick, cheap (antibody) tests in Spain.
But this is decidedly not good news. How long will they wait and what will satisfy them? Most importantly, what will be the consequences suffered before they're happy to have one of the several vaccines coming down the pike? Until 2022 or 23? If they're still alive.
Living La Vida Loca in Galicia/Spain
You don't get military personnel sending open letters to the government of many Western democracies but you certainly do here in Spain. The 3rd of such letters has just been published, to coincide with tomorrow's Day of the Constitution, which would normally see an (anachronistic?) military parade. The signatories to this letter insist that, as retired officers, they have the right to free speech. Which is true, of course. If hardly the point at issue.
This is a nice article on pretty topiary stuff around Spain, in which Galicia's largest urban concentration, Vigo, gets a mention. But, with a population of almost 300,000, it's described as a 'small city'. Which struck me as odd. But, when compared with Madrid at 3.3m, I guess it is. For the record, Vigo compares with the UK cities of Bradford 299k, Newport 307k and Swansea 300k. Not to mention my birthplace, Birkenhead, at 325k. Which I've never even considered a city.
At 80,000, Pontevedra must rank as a 'very small city'. It compares with the UK cities of Carlisle 78k, Scunthorpe 80k, Chester 80k, Tamworth 82k, and Weston-super-Mare 83k. All of which, as with Birkenhead, I'd regard as towns, rather than cities. (The old - and possibly obsolete - British qualification as a 'city' demanded a cathedral. Which Birkenhead certainly doesn't have. Unlike, Liverpool just across the Mersey, which has two. And a population of 498k, 864k or 2.2m, depending on whom you include. The modern definition of 'city' seems to be merely 'large town)
The UK
The smallest place to qualify as a city - because it has a cathedral - is St David's, in Wales. Its population is less than 2,000. So, really a village and not even a town. Anyway, Wikipedia lists all the UK's small 'cities' here.
The EU
Thousands of British expats will lose their UK bank accounts when some EU nations stop UK brands from operating after this year. Unless the account holders quickly make new arrangements, they'll be left without vital banking services. Nationwide has told 5,000 expats in the Netherlands and Italy their accounts will close from Dec 31. It's the latest of several providers to announce such measures. Barclays will close accounts in Italy, Belgium, Slovakia and Estonia. Lloyds, which owns Halifax and the Bank of Scotland, is closing accounts in Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Germany, Holland and Slovakia. And the Co-op Bank will do likewise in The Netherlands, after the Dutch central bank said British banks would be banned from serving residents from 2021.
No news yet from the larger HSBC and its subsidiary First Direct. The other good news - for me at least - is that, so far, Spain hasn't featured in the lists. Perhaps because of the 300,000 to 1 million Brits who live here. At least during part of the year. Shortly to be limited to 3 months for non-residents, I believe.
The USA
One can but smile. Laugh, even . . . President Trump’s efforts to discredit the integrity of the election and overturn Joe Biden’s victory are harming Republicans’ chances of retaining control of the Senate, senior figures in the party have warned.
The Way of the World
As a lover of ginger, I was disappointed to read this morning of a shortfall of supply against (growing) demand. China, of course, is the lead supplier of ginger and harvests there were 'surprisingly poor' both last year and this year. So, fingers crossed for 2021. And for the emergence of alternative suppliers in Asia and elsewhere. Meanwhile, prices are naturally rising.
Spanish
Un cribado: A screening, e.g. of kids in school, for Covid.
Finally . . .
Amusing aphorisms No.9: Remember, if you lose a sock in the washing machine or dryer, it comes back as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers. [I am the owner of 15 'orphan' socks]
* A terrible book, by the way. Don't be tempted to buy it, unless you're a very religious Protestant.
2 comments:
The Constitution was yesterday. Tomorrow is the Immaculate Conception. There's an analogy in there, somewhere, debatable in itself.
Oops. Thanks, María. I guess it's because neither has any importance or relevance for me . . .
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