I posted something late last night. If you haven't seen it so far today, you might like to scroll down.
First
things first . . . I inexplicably failed to include two
paragraphs in Saturday's post. So here they are now:-
Being
- except when depressed - an arrogant elitist, I detest the modern
TV practice of reading out the emailed or texted opinions of viewers
or listeners. I've decided to give this vox populi babble a
name but have rejected vopopabble as being too long, in favour
of merely pabble. I wonder if it will catch on.
Talking
to my neighbour Manolo about internet providers, he said he was a
client of MoviStar and that the maximum he ever achieved was 1
mega, compared with the '6 to 10' offered in their ads and 'Up to 6'
which I was offered by the folk I dealt with. Talking to my neighbour
on the other side, Jacobo (husband of the divine Ester), he said he
was a client of R and that 1 mega was all they could ever receive. I
told him of my problems with MoviStar and he immediately
offered his wi-fi key so that I could access their internet. Over the
years, I've written of the (perceived) quirks of the Spanish but I've
always balanced this with the point that the Spanish - once you are a
personal friend - can be the most 'noble' in the world. And this is
not a bad example of that.
But
anyway . . .
The
fearsome Herr Schäuble came to Spain this week. Click here for the
FT's take on his trip to Santiago. Correctly enough, the FT thought
this city was "an appropriate place to
deliver a message of extraordinary faith, even if some might still
think it an unlikely story."
Strange
to relate, not long before I read of the visit and the all-party
commitment to austerity measures, I read this comment in A J P Taylor's
great book, "The Origins of the
Second World War":- The
[1929] Depression was started by collapse of a speculative boom in
the United States; and the unemployment which followed was swelled by the failure of purchasing power to keep pace with the
increased sources of production. Everyone understands this now; just
as they know that the way of out of a depression is to increase
government spending. In 1929, hardly anyone knew it; and the few who
did had no influence on policy. It was generally believed that
deflation was the only cure. There must be sound money, balanced
budgets, cuts in government expenditure and reductions in wages.
Then, presumably, prices would somehow become low enough for people
to start buying again. This policy caused hardship and discontent in
every country where it was applied. . . Everyone applauded the
measures when applied to others but resented them when applied to
himself. Sound at all familiar? Are
your reminded of the dictum - "Those that do not study history
are condemned to relive it?
Interestingly,
the strongest proponents of this strategy today - the Germans - went
in the opposite direction (alone) back then and ended up with their
infamous inflation. Perhaps that's why they now militantly support
and proselytise the strategy they eschewed back in 1929.
The
drive up north from Portsmouth to Liverpool was smooth enough
yesterday afternoon, in some lovely early summer sun. At least until
we got south of Birmingham. As we approached the outskirts of
Liverpool, I was amused by the sign to "Football Stadia".
Meaning those of the Everton and Liverpool clubs. I quickly
calculated the number of supporters of both clubs likely to know the
Latin plural of "Stadium" and got seven. Nine at a push.
As
we got to her home, my sister sounded a tad sad when she remarked
"You know, I couldn't find anything on that boat to complain
about. And the pastries were to die for. Especially at only 2.5 euros
each." I fear she'll be back!
Finally
. . . A couple of fotos:-
This is almost
certainly the ugliest new-but-unfinished house I've seen in Galicia.
Made even worse by the fact that it faces, not down the hill to a
decent view, but sideways to an ugly building next door. I read a
week or two ago that a wave of squatting had hit Spain but I rather
doubt even squatters would descend to living in this monstrosity. The
architect and builders should be hung by piano wire from the nearest
yardarm.
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