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'
Living La Vida Loca in Galicia/Spain
One thing that Spain doesn't lack is police forces. Yesterday, on the Poio-Pontevedra border, the new restrictions were being enforced - simultaneously - by the Guardia Civil, the national police, the regional police and the local police forces of both municipalities. So, five in all. Each with their own colourful cars. IGIMSTS.
Those infernal federados . . . I've now learned that these even include boxers and triathletes who belong to the respective national organisations. These are allowed to move freely between Poio and Pontevedra for 'training' purposes. Reader Maria has advised that, to qualify for freedom of movenent denied to the rest of us, you just need to play an organised sport which has a competitive league. IGIMSTS.
There've been reports in UK media outlets about British 'expats' being outraged at the UK government lying to them about 'no changes after Brexit'. Causing much schadenfreude amusement in the EU. One I read featured a couple who'd been living in Andalucia for 20 years but had only applied for Spanish residence last December. So, they'd been here illegally all that time and had ignored - until the very last moment - the constant British Embassy advice to regularise their situation before the end of 2020. They're now having problems coming back to Spain from the UK because they're not 'resident' here. One's forced to ask who's fault that might be.
I wonder if those who've had to admit to living here more than 6 months without taking out residence will be getting a visit from the Tax Office re back-taxes and the (massively fined) failure to report global assets. The Hacienda is, famously, not the most sympathetic organisation in the world. As I've said, fear of this might have influenced many who've decided to go back 'home'..
The more interesting reports are of a surge in Brits wanting to buy property here, so that they can work from home in Spain, rather than in the UK. Makes sense and will, as noted, lead to a change in the profile of the average Brit here. Especially if those retired folk who've been living here under the wire can't return for more than 30 days at a time and so decide to sell up and leave. There should be a lot of property available in the South.
Sadly, Valencia's Fallas festivities of May-July have been cancelled again this year.
Déja vu: November 16 2001: The reports on TV last night were of unseasonal bitter cold in the North and East of Spain, including a great deal of snow. Most of the reporters looked frozen stiff and one of them spoke of a temperature at or below zero. I suspect reports of cold weather come as a shock to Brits who think Spain is all sun but it's the second most mountainous country in Europe and many of the cities are at high levels, making for very cold winters. I smiled to see Lenox Napier making the same point in this week's Business Over Tapas bulletin. Almost 20 years later. It seem Brits are still ignorant of these facts.
María's New Year, Same Old: Days 12, 13 and 14. Continuing connection challenges. I hate Telefónica too. But have moved to their cheaper O2 option.
The UK
Never in Spain . .
Finally . . .
Is it just me ageing or are TV ads increasingly banal and unimaginative - not to mention invariably ‘inclusive/multicultural’? In Britain at least. Perhaps all the creativity now goes into internet ads.
3 comments:
Have you noted that they all contain dogs as well. 50% of the population loath dogs and I for one would never dream of any purchase based on the presence of a dog.
Doggusted of Tonbridge Wells
Wondered who you meant but finally realised it was in the ads . . . Yes, indeed.
A Swedish postal delivery motorbike in Lérez. Are you expecting a delivery of "Stockholm Syndrome" to help you identify with your Poio jailers?
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