Today's
El País had a leader on the departure of George Entwistle
from the BBC. Their main point was that, whatever had gone on at the
BBC and whatever the propriety of his pay-off, he'd had the decency
to resign and this was not something one sees much of in Spain. Shame
they spelt his name Entswistle. Twice.
I
think I may have mentioned that the Spanish way of dealing with
mortgage arrears is little short of scandalous. Public anger has been
building up at the number of cases of people ruthlessly evicted from
their homes by banks which then refuse to offset the value of the
repossessed property against the outstanding loan. Indeed, they add
to the latter by way of massive legal and court fees. Driving some
people to suicide. The government and the opposition appear to be
ready to agree a 'pact' around what should be the process
and the timetable. But the banks – better late than never – have
now announced that – 'for humanitarian reasons' - they won't take
immediate action against people who are in 'an extreme situation'.
It's a start. But not much of a one.
Heard
an interesting interview with Tomara Rojo this evening. She's the
Spanish ballet dancer who's now Artistic Director and Principal Dancer
of the English National Ballet. Her father used to fall asleep during
her performances. Which annoyed her, apparently. Some daughters!
Some
Bits and Bobs:
Beggars
and panhandlers in Pontevedra: There's clearly more of them than
ever – gypsies; Rumanians; bagmen; bagpipe players; pipe players;
middle-class men with placards, etc. Can they all be genuinely in
need? Can any of them? What criteria to use?
Estate
cars: There aren't as many of these here in Spain as in Portugal
and I now wonder whether there isn't a financial reason. For in
Portugal you pay less tax, I'm told, if you put a 'dog guard' behind
the front seats and put the rear seats down. Thus qualifying as a van
for taxation purposes. Rather like blacking out the rear windows in
the UK. Perhaps in Portugal you get even more of a discount if the
'dogs' area' is even bigger than normal. There has to be a
reason for the ubiquitousness of the estate model. Which I think is
called a shooting brake in the USA. Or maybe station waggon.
Birthday
cards: I have daughter birthdays coming up but the choice here is
poor. Not a Spanish thing.
General
strike: We have one tomorrow morning, I believe. There was an
election-type van going round today inviting us all to participate. I
wonder what the turnout will be. Which seems like the wrong word
really. Turnoff, more accurately.
Menús
del Día: The cost of these seems to be falling, in these
desperate times. After the 3.99 price I saw in Lisbon, there was a
5.95 lunch on offer in Pontevedra today, the lowest I've ever seen.
Gone, for now, are the days of the 12.50 special. As have some of the places offering them.
Portugal's
economic growth: Mrs Merkel has told the Portuguese that sticking
to the austerity last will bring 'growth and investment'. As if she
has any bloody idea!
Gaelic
football teams: There are seven of these in Galicia, apparently.
Just an excuse to drink Guinness?
Finally
. . . Click here for the description of how the Spanish economy
works, by someone who knows whereof he talks.
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