Here’s something to bear in mind if you’re thinking of driving in Spain – 1.7million cars aren’t insured. And 1.5million of these are being driven by someone with a phone to his or her ear.

Switching on the TV this morning, I was confronted by a pair of breasts covered in what looked like cling-foil. This turned out to be a bra-substitute called – and I’m not making this up – ‘Lift It Up’. I have written to point out that it should be ‘Lift Them Up’ but, as ever, am not expecting a reply.

The ‘Committee of the Wise’ which has been considering Spanish TV for the last 6 or 7 months yesterday came up with their recommendations. These are that the government [i. e. the taxpayer] should assume the existing debts of the TV companies and, in future, pay half the running costs. This, they say, would allow the volume of advertising to reduce to something like the level of other European countries. In addition a sort of quango should be formed to supervise the content of the programmes. The right-of-centre El Mundo splenetically pointed out today that the main beneficiary of all this would be a company owned by one of the main supporters of the socialist government.

All of which sort of reminds me - Tony Blair has only 3 syllables in his name and John Prescott 4. Their opposite numbers in Spain have 11 and 13, respectively. Could this be one of the reasons why the Spanish talk so rapidly?

Finally, there’s otherworldliness and otherworldliness. The Mother Superior of Pontevedra’s sole remaining convent has been taken to task for allowing some of its antique furniture to be exchanged for towels and other household items. These were offered by a couple who came to the door selling underwear for the 6 inmates. Not Jehovah Witnesses, then.