Another horrendous local road accident involving teenagers. Seven of them – all from the same family group – were travelling in a small car which left the road and hit a tree. Two of them died and three of them are in negotiation with the Grim Reaper. As ever, the accident took place around 5.30am, when they were returning from the disco. And, as so often, the cause of the accident is ‘as yet undetermined but believed to be high speed’. Road fatalities are high in Spain and it is sadder than sad that one of the main factors is the willingness of parents to subsidise their adult children for years, so allowing them to buy high-powered cars that they could otherwise not afford. Other factors are the macho culture, all-night partying and the apparent unwillingness of the police to crack down both on drunken driving and the failure to obtain a licence, especially in tourist areas. It came as no surprise to read that no one in the car was wearing a seat belt, the law on which might as well not exist, for all the difference it seems to make.

 

On a lighter note – the denizens of Antzuola yesterday celebrated the anniversary of the defeat of Abd Al-Rahman III. This involved what seemed to be a genuine, be-fezzed moor [Moroccan] abasing himself in ritual humiliation below the feet of a Spanish warrior’s horse. Hard to see this taking place in Leicester or Birmingham, where all the abasing comes from the local politicians intent on obtaining the vote of the large Muslim section of the electorate. A different world.

 

While we are on the subject of what a world it is – I read that the Spanish Olympic team will be accompanied by a contingent of specially trained police officers. Time to call it a day? Too much to hope??