Having reviewed all the
nearly 200 things I've posted about Those Funny Spanish, I've
realised I failed to mention one of their most important
attributes - their attitude to time. Going out on a limb, I'll say
this reflects 700 years under Islam and several hundred years under
unReformed Catholicism. Someone has said that the Spanish know how to
'eat time'. We all, know, of course, that punctuality isn't their
greatest strength but, putting this aside, it's impossible to argue
against John Carlin's view that: The main reason why I like Spain
more than any other country in which I have spent more than a year at
a stretch is that here they have come as close as I have seen to
figuring out how life should be lived. The Spanish have discovered a
happy balance, I believe, between the requirements of labour - the
ineluctable need to make money - and the no less ineluctable truth
that life is short and, where possible, to be savoured. . . . The
main reason why the Spanish way of life is so likeable has to do with
the civilised balance they have found in their lives. Money and work
are important but they must not be allowed to get in the way of other
priorities. Like being humane. Like taking people on trust. Like
behaving nobly. More from John here
The UK Election: Reading a biography of
Tony Blair, I wasn't too surprised to hear that Gordon Brown's
fiercest attack dog - and the man most detested in the Blairite camp
of this massively divided administration - was Ed Balls. Strangely,
for such a key figure in the Labour party, he seems to have been
absent from their campaign, possibly because of the unreconstructed
Old Labour views of both him and his partner, Yvette Cooper. And it's
a tad disconcerting to know that, should Miliband become PM tomorrow,
Ed Balls will be in charge of the economy and Ms Cooper will hold
another senior position. Perhaps they'll even bring back Gordon
Brown.
The Corruption
Cavalcade
A judge has started the
process for seizing assets of the disgraced Princess Cristina, after
she failed to pay a €2.7m bond to cover her liability in
the case. He's ordered her to hand over a list of assets, with a
view to impounding some or all of them.
Having got my
permission to send me promotional bumf, Apple failed to respond to my
on-line query. I'm going to Vigo today and will call in on their
shop. I'm beginning to seriously dislike the company, notwithstanding
my affection for its products.
Finally . . . Worse
even than the pigeons which annoy me so much in Pontevedra are the
ferocious seagulls which snatch things from your very hands, en route
to your mouth. So I sympathised with the owner when I read this
headline: Seagulls peck chihuahua to death in back garden. On the
other hand, I hate tiny ugly dogs . . .
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